We’ll win if polls are fair, says Makarfi

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may emerge victorious if the governorship election is free and fair, according to Chairman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Ahmed Makarfi.

He explained in an interview with reporters in Abuja yesterday that the leaders and members of the party, irrespective of their interest and factions are working for the party’s candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Makarfi said: “I have never heard of any PDP member in Edo, no matter the personal interests, campaigning for the All Progressives Congress (APC). All the reports reaching me are that the PDP members have been campaigning for the party.

“That assures us that we are on course and we are confident that if free and fair election holds, we are going to come out victorious. We have no fear at all,” he said.On the reconciliation of the leadership crisis rocking the party, Makarfi said the PDP was open to rational demand for settlement.

He said: “When you are in the process of reconciliation, you talk less. When you talk about the actions being taken or contemplated, you may indirectly be undermining the process.

“All I can say is that, we on this side of the divide are open to reconciliation. Reconciliation must not be forcedThere must be flexibility.’’According to Makarfi, the PDP believes that even when a faction wins all the litigations that arose from the leadership crisis, there would still be need for internal reconciliation.

He added that the party’s members have nothing to fear over the ongoing process, because they are hopeful that they would come out stronger when the stormy period is over.Secretary to the national caretaker committee, Ben Obi, said the committee was committed to restructuring the party to its past glory.

Obi said: “We are deeply committed to making sure that the PDP comes back to its old fold. That is what the chairman has been doing in the last three or four weeks. He has held meetings with various leaders across the country in search of peace.

“If this country has to be rescued, it needs the active involvement of the PDP as a solid opposition party to engage the ruling APC in its activities and programmes.’’