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IN Abeokuta, the Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Chief (Mrs.). Titi Oseni and the State Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Bukola Olopade yesterday narrowly escaped death as the PDP ward and local government congresses, in the state were characterized by violence.
IN Abeokuta, the Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Chief (Mrs.). Titi Oseni and the State Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Bukola Olopade yesterday narrowly escaped death as the PDP ward and local government congresses, in the state were characterized by violence.
While the incident involving the speaker and the commissioner happened at the Centenary Hall in Abeokuta, the state capital, reports from Imeko/Afon Local Government said that no fewer than three persons were shot during the congresses. All these happened on a day President Olusegun Obasanjo was in Abeokuta to attend a 70th birthday thanksgiving.
Trouble started in Abeokuta at the Centenary Hall at about 12.20pm when hoodlums numbering over 100 stormed the venue of the congresses in three Urvan buses wielding lethal weapons including guns, machetes, cutlasses and swords.
Firing several gunshots into the air and dispersing those on the queue for accreditation in the process, the hoodlums started throwing empty bottles, stones and other missiles into the hall while calling for the heads of the leaders of the party in the local government. They alleged that the list of members of executive who emerged at the ward congress was doctored and in some cases outright selection of names by the leaders.The speaker and commissioner were locked up in a room in the hall by their security aides for over one hour while the police tried to dislodge the hoodlums
Policemen on guard duties at the venue responded by firing several canisters of teargas to disperse the hoodlums but without achieving much as the thugs continued to press forward attempting to enter the hall to wreak more havoc. Some of the policemen who neither carried rifle or teargas had to find a means of escaping while several people including two journalists were injured in a bid to escape.
While the Guardian Correspondent, Mr. Charles Gyamfi, almost suffocated from the fumes of teargas before he was rescued by some good Samaritans, the Comet Correspondent, Mr. Femi Shodunke, was left with a swollen hand after deflecting a missile which was targeted at the head. Reinforcement was called for with the Area Commander leading the team before the hoodlums were eventually dispersed but not before the congresses had been aborted. Reports from Imeko/Afon said that three persons received gunshot wounds when some hoodlums led by a party leader stormed the venue of the congresses firing indiscriminately.
Oyo: Bloody clashes between Ladoja, Adeojo supporters: The peace brokered by President Olusegun Obasanjo between Governor Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo State and his political godfather Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu appeared to have hit the rock as the ward and local government congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, produced two chairmen in each of most of the councils in the state.
Besides, the congresses were also marred by violence in some councils especially in Saki and Akinyele councils where bloody clashes ensued between supporters of the state Governor and Alhaji Yekini Adeojo. Last minute efforts to ensure that the congresses were used to further cement the existing cordial relationship among leaders of the party proved abortive as Friday meeting held at the instance of the Ladoja ended without any concrete agreement on harmonized list for the congresses.
At police playing ground Yemetu Ibadan where the governor voted, two persons: Alhaji Raimi Gbadamosi and Alhaji Musiliu Anibaba were declared chairmen of Ibadan North Local Government of the party. At exactly 11.15 am, Alhaji Gbolarumi Hazeem, who is the linkman of the PDP in the state, stormed the Yemetu playing ground in a jeep with Federal Government registration number and held discussion with some people before he left.
Few minutes later Anibaba was carried round the field by supporters who were jubilating on his victory said to have been sanctioned by Hazeem. Ladoja, accompanied by retinue of aides, arrived the voting center at exactly 11.55 am and joined the ward 8 line where he cast his vote.
After the voting exercise was conducted for all the party delegates on queue at the voting center Gbadamosi from ward 8 of the council was declared the winner of the election and this was certified by representative of Chief Ebenezer Babatope the accredited supervisor for the state PDP congresses. Chief of staff to the governor, Mr. Sarafadeen Alli, said 'We are respecting the court ruling that declared that last ward congresses were null and void and as you can see we have conducted congresses at the ward level and we are now at the level of the local government and everything is peaceful. Anything contrary to this is null and void".
At Oyo, the cold war between Ladoja and Adeojo reared its ugly head as two individuals were declared chairmen for Atiba Local Government of the party with one Josinde declared for the governor''s faction while Chief Adedile was declared chairman of the Adeojo group. The report was the same at Saki West Local Government where Alhaji Fasansi Apata was declared chairman of Ladoja's faction while Alhaji Safarudeen Aderogba was the chairman of Adeojo''s faction of the party.
However, violent clashes broke out in two councils in the state over the election largely regarded as factionalized at Akinyele and Saki local governments. Supporters of the two groups engaged one another in a bloody clash in which several persons were injured. But at Ibadan South West Local Government; the home council of Chief Lamidi Adedibu, voting went on peacefully without any violence as all the candidates were returned unopposed.
Abuja: Shooting mar exercise: In Abuja, sporadic shooting by heavily armed police almost marred the exercise in Wuse Zone 2 and Gwagwa both in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, just as there was no voting in all the wards.The incident happened at exactly 2 pm when the presiding officer was reading out the names of voters at the ward congress to a mammoth crowd at the Local Government Area Primary School at Wuse Zone 2.
Dissatisfied with the manner the officer was reading out the names, some angry youths moved towards the officer to take possession of the papers, sensing what the action may lead to, police men who were assigned to provide security shot into the air to put an end to the confusion. When Sunday Vanguard visited the FCT PDP located at Plot 222 Massenya Street, Wuse Zone 6 at 11am, there was no staff except heavily armed policemen who manned the venue.
According to our correspondent who monitored the exercise, there was no voting in the ward and local government congresses of the PDP in the FCT. What took place in the wards was the non-elective method as most of the subsisting party officials were returned by affirmation. At the ward level, officials 'appointed" at the October 3 congress, which was nullified by an Abuja High Court, were simply ratified, just as incumbent party officers at the local government level were also reported unopposed.
Candidates were not fielded in the elections as lists that were drawn up were simply ratified. At Bwari Area Council, Mr.Danladi Baluwaye who said he had been the Chairman of the party at the Central Ward since the inception of the party in 1999 told journalists that all the officials in his ward were returned unopposed based on the instruction he received from the local government headquarters of the party. As at the time of filing this report, local government congresses for AMAC were not held as the venue was moved from Jiwa to the Old Parade ground in area 10 for security reasons and power supply.
Kwara: Parallel congresses: The wards and local government congresses of the PDP in Kwara State went on peacefully across the 193 wards and the 16 local governments in the state. In Ajikobi central, Alanamu and Magaji Are Wards all in Ilorin West Local Government, by 9.20am, the ward congresses had been concluded, while that of local government ended by 2,35pm ahead of 3pm end of voting time announced by the party on the local radio.
In the three senatorial districts, namely Kwara Central, Kwara North and Kwara South, majority of the aggrieved members of the party tagged as the old PDP, had been reconciled into the mainstream of what is largely called the Sarakites. However, there were unconfirmed reports of parallel congresses in one ward in Offa where Arc. Sola Ashiru, a former senatorial aspirant hails from, while a former gubernatorial aspirant of the party Alh Yekeen Alabi also organized a parallel congresses with his supporters in Irra. Aside these two out of the 193,the remaining,191 wards the congress went on perfectly as scheduled. In Irepodun where chieftains like Mr Gbenga Olawepo, Princess Olufunke Adedoyin and others hail from, there was no report of parallel congresses as at the time of filing this report
Edo: Protests amid parallel congresses: Reports from Edo State said the ward and local gcvernment congresses of the PDP were held in the 18 local government councils of the state, amid protests by leaders of the party over attempts by some individuals to impose candidates on the them thereby resulting in the establishment of parallel party structures at the wards and local governments in the state.
Besides, Governor, Lucky Igbinedion was absent at the parallel elections held in his Oredo Local Government, while the monitoring team sent by the national leadership of the Party described those involved in the parallel elections in the state as hoodlums not known to the party.
Sunday Vanguard gathered during the tour of five local government councils of Oredo, Ikpoba Okha, Etsako Central and
Etsako West Local Councils that the division within the party along factional lines was made pronounced by the leaders of the party not satisfied with the modalities adopted for the congresses held parallel ones.In Oredo Local Government, the congresses were held by the factions of the party. While, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu led one faction to elect Capt. Osa Okunbo as the party chairman, another congress attended by the former Director of Centre for Democratic Studies(CDS),Professor Omo Omoruyi, elected Chief Samson Esemuede as chairman.
In Etsako West Local Government, youths from South-Ibie Ward embarked on a peaceful protest against alleged imposition of Alhaji Abudu Momodu as chairman, by a faction led by Senator Victor Oyofo, causing the disruption of the congresses in the area. Also in Fugar, the headquarters of Etsako Cantral Local Government, the congresses were enmeshed in controversy as a parallel congress was reportedly held but the claim was denied by the leaders of the party in the area.
Plateau: Mantu group defies court order: In Plateau State, the rescheduled ward and local governmentcongresses of the PDP did not hold in Plateau Statefollowing an injunction of a Jos High Courtrestraining the party from going ahead with thecongresses pending the determination of the motion onnotice filed by some members of the party. However, the Mantu-led group claimed it held thecongresses even though journalists who went round sawno sign of any congress anywhere.Curious journalists, who had on Friday been assured bysome members of the faction that the congresses wouldstill go ahead on the ground, that they were not awareof any court injunction, went to the Dadin Kowa stateSecretariat of the faction at about 9.30 a.m. and weretold that the congresses were concluded an hour earlier. Secretary of the Caretaker Committee now overseeingthe affairs of the faction, Malam Saleh Bayari, toldjournalists that the congresses were concluded by 8.30a.m. and when journalists probed further, he showedthem some officials from Abuja whom he said conductedthe congresses.
He refused to be drawn into why they were concludedso soon or the court injunction stopping thecongresses. Leader of the other faction, Alhaji Habu Shindai, hadissued a release which was repeatedly aired over theradio announcing the postponement of the congresses indeference to the court order.He said as the elected chairman of the PDP in thestate, he was calling off the congresses in obedienceto the interim injunction of the court and directedmembers to abide by the injunction.Justice Jummai Sankey had restrained the PDP and members of the caretaker committee set up by thenational secretariat of the party from conducting thecongresses after considering amotion ex-parte brought by four members of the party.
Anambra: Strict supervision in Awka: In Awka, the ward congresses took place in the 21 Local Government Areas of Anambra State amidst strict supervision by some Co-cordinators dispatched to the State by the National Headquarters of the party. The Ward congress was first conducted before the Local Government Congress took place much later in the day. Before the commencement of the exercise, the national co-ordinators had supervised the distribution of the materials for the exercise which included result sheets for the elections which were duly certified by the National Headquarters of the party. The distribution was done at the state party secretariat, in Awka.
According to the voting arrangement, each ward presented 10 delegates from the ward executive who would then proceed to the local government to constitute the delegates for the Local Government congress. When Sunday Vanguard visited the party Secretariat yesterday, the officials incharge of the various local governments were busy collecting their materials and heading to their various primary areas of assignment. Speaking to newsmen after the distribution of the materials, one the National Co-ordinator, Mr. Ralph Nwosu, from Imo State, flanked by Alhaji Abdullahi Mande from Kwara State, expressed satisfaction with the progress of the exercise.
Ekiti: Candidates re-presented, minor skirmishes in Ado: The elective ward /local government congresses of the PDP which took place in all the 16 local governments in Ekiti State were generally peaceful, except in Ado-Ekiti Local Government where there were reported cases of skirmishes. Sunday Vanguard gathered that majority of the people who were affirmed as officers and delegates during the annulled non-elective ward congress were also presented for yesterday's exercise. However ,a former treasurer in Gbonyin Local Government Area of the state was unable to scale through as he could not meet-up with the requirements of the party for the election .
Sunday Vanguard further gathered that the crisis in Ado-Ekiti wards 10 and 11 began when it became apparent that some people loyal to the local government chairman ,Mr Taye Fasuba, could not be fielded for the election. This must have prompted a protest which lasted for about two hours, it was the timely intervention of the mobile police who quickly dispersed the protesters from the scene ,as the time of going to the press( 5.55pm) the exercise was still in progress in the two wards.
Commenting on the exercise ,the chairman of the party in the state , Chief Ropo Adesanya, described the exercise as peaceful .On the presentation of thesame candidates for the non-elective congress and the elective ones ,the chairman said there was nothing wrong with the arrangement since the people believed in the competence of the candidates.
Enugu: Large turnout: According to reports from Enugu State, the PDP congresses at the ward and local government levels were held under a peaceful atmosphere. Party faithful including men and women, trooped out en masse for the congresses in most of the local governments and wards and elected their delegates in line with the approved guidelines for the conduct of the exercise. Reports from the state secretariat of the party indicated that the congresses were hitch-free and devoid of rancour even though feedback from other local governments located far from the State Capital were yet to be received by press time.
The state publicity secretary of the PDP, Mr. Ugulu O. Ugulu, said in a press release that the congresses took place in all the wards and local government headquarters in the state. 'The entire exercise was transparent, which is a clear manifestation of the indescribable unity of the mighty PDP in the state, he said adding that it confirmed the fact that the 'PDP is one big family bound by one destiny."
Lagos: Hijack of election alleged: In Lagos State, the deputy chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, yesterday expressed satisfaction with the conduct of elections into the ward and local government chapters of the party in the state, amidst protests from Agege Local Government over alleged plans to hijack elective positions in the area. George who, alongside Gen Tajudeen Olarenwaju (rtd), Chief Rafiu Tinubu and Mr Demola Seriki paid a courtesy call to members of the Lagos Island local government chapter of the PDP where elections into executive positions were held, however, charged the newly elected executive of the area to work assiduously in ensuring that the party captures Lagos State in 2007.
He said 'I will want to charge the newly elected executive members that the work ahead of them is quite enormous; you should also know that you are there for the interim and you must ensure that the PDP come 2007, sweeps through the entire south-west of the country and most especially Lagos State". Meanwhile, protests have trailed the ward and local government congresses of the PDP in the state over alleged hijacking of elective positions in some of the various local government chapters of the party.
Publicity secretary, Agege local government of the PDP, Evangelist Adenle Michael, told Sunday Vanguard at the PDP secretariat in Ikeja that the leadership of the party at the state level should ensure that there was free and fair elections into the various positions of the party, most especially in his local government area. This is coming against the backdrop of allegation leveled against a governorship aspirant that he prevented elections from holding.
Sporadic shootings disrupt exercise in Asaba: The congresses did not hold in Delta State yesterday following a bloody mayhem that erupted, leading to sporadic shootings by both police and some party thugs. As early as 8am, yesterday, several members of the party, among them top notchers which included the secretary to the state government (SSG), speaker of the state house of assembly, legislators, commissioners, state party chairman, Dr. Pius Sinebe, and local government chairmen thronged Grand Hotel Asaba where the members sent from Abuja to supervise the congresses, were lodged.
Trouble started when rumours went round that the Abuja coordinating team led by Alhaji Garuba Shehu, had allegedly come with prepared list of those to be returned, while another version had it that the team had fake materials in their possession. There was tension which resulted to free for all fight between party members who were accompanied by thugs as they traded words over the development. Some officials however dismissed the rumour as untrue while others believed it. Several people were wounded in the process, while one person had his ear chopped off during the fight. Some persons attempted to kidnap the Abuja team. Two members of the team were dragged from the hotel rooms and manhandled while it took the personal intervention of the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Udom Ekpoudom and men of the State Security Service (SSS) to 'smuggle" out the members from the hotel premises amidst tight security.
Adamawa: Plans to organise parallel congresses alleged: From Adamawa State, reports said the ward and local government congresses were generally peaceful. However, some members of the PDP held parallel congresses. Sunday Vanguard monitored the exercise in Yola North, South, Numan, Mayo- Belwa and Girei local government areas of the state and observed parallel congresses. In Yola North, the PDP chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Gowi, said they had their own congresses in line with the PDP guidelines.
On his part, the national supervisor, Nasir Danladi Bako, expressed satisfaction with the exercise, adding that the laid down procedures were followed and the people were happy with the leader and delegates elected. He said any congress held any where apart from what the national team sent to the state held was something else and not the PDP Congress. Earlier at a pre-congress press briefing, Senator Jibril Aminu appealed to the people of the state to toe the path of honour and integrity by following the legitimate channels of doing things.
Party loyalists defy deputy gov's order in Yenagoa: In spite of the suspension of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward and local government ward congresses by the deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the exercise went ahead successfully in seven local government areas of the state amid tight security. Yesterday's drama in the state could at best be described as a show of strength between the state deputy governor and Mr. Timi Alaibe, the Executive Director Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the party''s linkman for Bayelsa State.
Prior to the commencement of yesterday's exercise, there was massive military deployment in the state. The combat ready soldiers deployed from the Joint Military Taskforce aka Operation Restore Hope, were moved into Yenagoa and its environs Friday night to maintain law and order. Our correspondent who went round some of the the local government council headquarters observed that the ward and local government congresses of the party went on smoothly except for Ogbia Local Government Area, the stronghold of the state deputy governor which heed his directive.