2023: Ex-Kaduna Governor, Makarfi Names Preferred Presidential Candidate

A former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, has named Atiku Abubakar as his preferred presidential candidate for the 2023 race.

Makarfi made his choice known when he led the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Isa Muhammad Ashiru, to a meeting with religious groups in Kaduna.

Speaking during the meeting with the Christian clergy under the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Muslim Ummahs, and the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Makarfi said any party that does not respect Nigeria’s diversity, particularly religious differences, must not be allowed to rule the country or state.

He urged the PDP members to unite and chase away the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general elections.

Commenting on the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Makarfi said, “You will never find Ashiru lacking in terms of equity and fairness; hence he deserves our support to reposition the state from its present polarised state.

“There is so much frustration in the land. So, we must get it right on the first ballot. Deceit was used in the past but cannot work again in 2023, but the opposition must come together to chase out bad government.

“APC strategy is to divide people on various grounds, and now religion is being used, but we must not fall for it because, in a divided society, you need to bring people together.”

Makarfi also called on the party’s Governorship hopeful to restore the teaching of religious studies in schools.

He lamented that the state has never been so polarised on religious grounds under the ruling APC, urging them to ensure that PDP was voted to power in 2023.