Caretaker Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has thrown the party’s national chairmanship race open for all aspirants from the South, a top PDP source close to him said.

The source, a PDP stalwart who spoke to on the condition of anonymity, stressed that Makarfi is determined to ensure a level playing field at the forthcoming National Convention of the party.

He said that Makarfi has refused to give in to pressure for him to micro zone chairmanship slot meant for the South “because of his determination to ensure fairness to all as well as remain faithful to the decision of the Port Harcourt Convention of the party, which was what gave birth to the caretaker committee itself.”

The PDP insider, who spoke on Tuesday, added: “Given his antecedents, Makarfi has always been a fair-minded person. And that is what he wants all the aspirants to understand.

“Contrary to the impression being created, Makarfi is not desirous of imposing anyone on the party. He has rebuffed several pressures to support or endorse any particular aspirant or zone from the south for the chairmanship position.

“Makarfi has chosen to be fair to all so that whoever becomes the chairman will be a product of a clean process.”