PDP Reacts as Police Take Over Party's Secretariat, Restrict Movement
- Leadership crisis is rocking the Abia state chapter of Nigeria's lead opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
- Protests and counter-protests have been staged at the secretariat since Tuesday, May 3, following disagreements over the three-man delegates congress
- The situation appears to have degenerated as armed police operatives have now taken over the secretariat, though the PDP spokesman in the state said there was no cause for alarm
Umuahia, Abia state - Armed police operatives were seen at the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Abia state on Thursday, May 5.
The policemen restricted movement in and out of the secretariat located at Finbars Road, Umuahia, The Punch reported.
Source: Facebook
They were said to be working with “an order from above”.
Officials, workers asked to observe one-day rest at home, says Nwankwo
Meanwhile, the publicity secretary of Abia PDP, Fabian Nwankwo, said workers and officials of the party had been asked to observe one-day rest at home, Vanguard reported.
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According to him, the party officials and staff needed to rest because of accumulated stress arising from weeks of heavy activities.
He said activities would resume at the secretariat the next day, insisting that the presence of security personnel at the premises is not new.
Protests rock secretariat
Though Nwankwo said there was nothing new about the presence of the police operatives, it was gathered that there have been protests and counter-protests at the secretariat since Tuesday, May 3, following disagreements among party members over the three-man delegates congress.
Some persons have accused the Dr Asiforo Okere-led State leadership of the party of compromise and plots to manipulate the process in favour of a certain anointed governorship aspirant.
They demanded his immediate resignation or sack to enable the party to have leadership that would provide a level playground for all aspirants.
However, on Wednesday, May 4, there was a counter-protest as a mammoth crowd besieged the office in solidarity with Okere-led leadership.
They urged him not to be intimidated by those attempting to hijack power.
The 47-member State Working Committee (SWC) had also dismissed those protesting and petitioning against the chairman as ” faceless”.
Tension as thugs attack prominent PDP senator in southeast state
In another report, suspected political thugs, on Tuesday, April 19, attacked Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, in Abia state.
The PDP governorship aspirant in Abia state had gone on a consultation meeting with the party’s stakeholders at Okpuala Ngwa, headquarters of Isiala Ngwa North council.
Sources said that shortly after the Senate minority leader started addressing the stakeholders, a man later identified as the deputy chairman of the council, Chuks Amaike attacked him.
Source: Legit.ng
