A former National Caretaker Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, on Friday, said the defection of high profile politicians into the party would not have negative impact on the fortune of the party in the next general election.
He said the defection of political leaders, including the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso would add value to the chance of the party in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.
He stressed that the party has the capacity to handle the likely challenges that may confront it as a result of the defection of new members into its fold.
Markafi, who is a presidential aspirant of the party spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, while on sensitisation visit to the leaders of the party in the state.
He solicited the support of the state chapter of the party for the realization of his presidential ambition.
He admitted that the defection of new members into the PDP has its challenges, but said: “the leadership of our party has all it takes to handle any challenge that may come as a result of the development.”
“There is nothing good without its challenges. Our party needs new members and we appreciate the defection of some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) into our party, but this may come with its own challenges as many of them may also signify intention to contest for political offices.
“However, the leadership of the party has the wisdom to handle such situation, and we won’t allow it to divide us.”
Speaking on the threat by the APC senators to impeach the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, he said “I am not surprised with their actions; it shows their ignorance about the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because the constitution is clear about that. If they are familiar with the constitution they will know that they lack the legal powers to impeach the Senate president.
“I am sure they cannot have the two-thirds majority which the constitution requires for the impeachment of the Senate president. Our members in the Senate are intelligent people who will not give lawlessness a place in the Senate.”
According to him, the defection of the Senate President to the PDP does not prevent him from holding his office, saying the constitution failed to indicate that the Senate president must come from the ruling party.
He said, “I will refer the APC senators to the constitution for better understanding of the laws of our country.”
Markarfi, however, threw his weight behind the restructuring of the country, saying that the country needs total restructuring in order to develop and advance its economy.
He said PDP will ensure that the country is restructured if the party return to power in 2019, saying that the party has the key to the myriads of challenges confronting the nation.
“The policy of the PDP is restructuring and I can assure you that we will restructure this country. The Police will be restructured, so also the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Each political party must have a representative in INEC and that is what the PDP will do if we take over the government,” he said.