By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Nigeria’s political calculation ahead of the 2019 general elections just got tighter, as the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kaduna State, informally endorsed former Chairman of the party, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi to run for President.
Speaker after speaker, in the over flowing hall of the state Secretariat in Kawo, Kaduna, expressed optimism that Makarfi was the right man for the job duringbthe State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting on Friday.
First to call for voice endorsements, was the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, asked them if they would support Makarfi for President and a thunderous response of ‘Nigeria sai Makarfi’ filled the air.
As at time of filing this report, the meeting of key stakeholders of PDP in the state was still on.
If Makarfi agrees to contest, he would be facing other top contenders, including former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who for now, seems like the most popular candidate.
Others who may have signalled interest are former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Suke Lamido, incumbent Gombe Governor, Dankwambo, former Kano State Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and little known Umaru Saidu from Nasarawa State.
Whoever emerges from the party’s primaries would be slugging it out with President Muhammadu Buhari if he decides to contest, and wins his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, or whoever emerges the party’s candidate in an election many believe would still go either way.
PDP is however, being tipped to have a bright chance by several political analysts who are of the view that the electorate are waiting patiently to punish the APC for failure to fulfil electoral campaign promises.
