Crisis hits Niger PDP Congress
… Congress postponed as factions clash
… Electoral Officers whisked away
… Security take over Secretariat
Crisis on Saturday afternoon hit the Niger State Chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) as two factions clashed disrupting the State Congress.
The Congress was scheduled to hold today (Saturday) 12th of September but was marred following the emergence of vehicles from a leader of the Party in the State to whisk electoral Officers away.
The Congress which was married with violence had thugs suspected to be loyal to the two top contenders for the office of the Chairman engaged each other in a free for all fight.
The delegates who were all on ground and ready to vote were taken aback when at about 3:15 vehicles suspected to be from one of the leaders of the Party in the State emerged to evacuate the Electoral officers from the venue to an unknown place.
The delegates are lamenting that after coming to pass the night in Minna and ready to vote, electoral officers will be evacuated with gunshots into the air by the Police.
The atmosphere was very peaceful and delegates were seen in groups dancing, chanting slogan of “Sau biyu” for the former chairman, Barrister Tanko Beji who is seeking a second term as Chairman and the other group chanting “New face of leader”.
When our Correspondent spoke to a member of the Party, he said “it was glaring, Tanko Beji would have the day, before vehicles identifiably from former Governor Babangida Aliyu’s residence emerged and evacuated the electoral officers.”
No word from the electoral officers headed by Mohammed Imam, as delegates have been asked to remain calm and wait till there is an official communication from the electoral officers.
Former House of Representatives and Deputy house leader, Hon. Baba Shehu Agaie was manhandled and had to be whisked away from the venue of the Congress by heavily armed security men to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.
A pointer to the violence was noticed when as early as 7:00am, the entire vicinity of the party Secretariat along Eastern bypass was taken over by supporters of the two factions.
Although, there was heavy security presence at the venue, it could not prevent the former House of Representatives Member from being givien the beating of his life by some Party faithfuls suspected to be from his own local government, Agaie.
They had accused him of sabotaging their collective interest by aligning with the former governor Babangida Aliyu led group.
However, when the atmosphere became tensed and unconducive for any Congress, the electoral committee led by Mohammed Iman from the national headquarters of the Party was whisked away by security agents.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Niger State Congress Committee, Muhammed Imam in a statement he signed has postponement the State Congress
According to him “due to uncertain security situation at the PDP state Secretariat, Venue of the rescheduled State Congress, the Congress stated for today, 12th day of September, 2020 has been postponed.
Imam made the announcement after unsuccessful attempts were made to get the thousands of Party supporters and other persons gathered at the precinct of the venue to disperse before the commencement of the voting process.
According to the Chairman the Committee will report back to the National Working Committee which would determine the next line of action in accordance with the Constitution of the party.
END
