Militants shut-down PDP headquarters in Abuja

By Ahmed Abubakar

Menacing looking militants believed to be from Rivers state yesterday shut down the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national headquarters in Abuja.

The mob that were said to have arrived as early as 7 am Wednesday immediately sealed off all the entry points into the PDP secretariat thereby crippling all activities.

Peoples Daily reporter at the scene observed PDP staffs that were shut out standing in batches at relative distance from the secretariat discussing how to either stay around or smuggle their ways back home.

As the emotions began to rise amongst the demonstrators whom have made available various kind of alcoholic drinks, while some were observed to be wielding guns and dangerous arms at passersby.

Amongst what the mob were demonstrating against include;  last week delegates election and the non screening of their members that have also bought, filled and submitted nomination forms into elective offices.

In a letter they presented at the party secretariat, they called for the immediate resignation of PDP National Deputy Chairman, Uche Secondus over what they termed as. “Brazen corruption and causing confusion and chaos in the Rivers state chapter of the party”.

That the NWC of the party issue clearance certificate to all cares of aspirants, cancel the purported delegates list compiled by Nyesom Wike, Uche Secondus and the two man PDP Rivers Exco of Obuah and Walter.

That the party should disregard the purported house of Assembly Primaries of 29th November without clearing other aspirants for a free and fair contest.

The protesters under the auspices of coalition of Rivers State PDP House of Assembly and National assembly aspirants in their letter copied to the President declared that, “they are ready to die in order to bring justice, peace and victory at the polls to the PDP in Rivers “.

Meanwhile dozens of security operatives were deployed to the PDP secretariat as they look-on. While people were molested, harassed and intimidated by the angry mob.

Even staffs of the PDP and passersby were not spared that include , Ambassador Kema Chikwe who is also a Member of the NWC was almost lynched as security operatives quickly took her away.

However, the PDP National Vice chairman of the South/South PDP, Cairo Ojuogbo who addressed the protesters told them that the party would get back at them in 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the Police is said to have arrested 18 protesters, just as the security men carried away the coffin carried by the militants and dismantled the canopy erected by the protesters.

Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, Peter Okechukwu in an interview with our correspondent said his men did not use force on the protesters, saying that they infringed on other people’s rights through their actions.