.Violence Mars Ondo Congress, Ekiti Suspends Exercise IndefinitelyBy Uzoma AkobunduPandemonium reigned supreme on Saturday in Imo State when thugs suspected to be loyal to Governor Rochas Okorocha descended on the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, Senator Ben Uwajumogu and other chieftains of the All Progressive Congress during the ward congress exercise.The armed thugs in their hundreds had also unleashed mayhem at the party Secretariat but for the quick intervention of gallant armed mobile police officers and other security agents.The incident took place at the Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress along Okigwe Road, Owerri, the state Capital at about 12 noon.Eye witness said that the attack was not only directed at Madumere but at many others including Senator Uwajumogu, former Secretary to Imo State Government, Sir Jude Ejiogu, Air Commodore Peter Gbujie, Chief Felix Idiga, Best Mbanaso, BoT member of APC, Jasper Azuatalam, National Deputy Woman Leader of APC, Mrs. Tina Adike, Business mogul, Chief Tony Chukwu, Chief Goddy Esom Obodo among many others.Ruins of the canopies, chairs at the party secretariat with armed police men shielding the party stalwarts from harm from the raging hired miscreant
Alleged leaders of the thugs putting heads together on the next line of action even after their hired miscreants had been dispersed for safety of the party faithful
Senators Hope Uzodinma and Ifeanyi Araraume were also present, but had to go and battle the release from detention, some Congress Committee members who were detained on the governor’s directive.Th eye witness said that no sooner had the APC big wigs led by the Deputy Governor arrived the Party secretariat than two loyalists to the governor -Hon. Chike Okafor and Uju Kingsley – led thugs stormed the APC Secretariat, chanting war songs, and eventually disrupting all activities.They hauled pebbles at the party stalwarts, destroyed canopies, chairs and other valuables worth millions of naira.
Meanwhile, New Telegraph has reported that violence, irregularities and protest marred the ward congress of the All Progressives Congress held in different parts of Ondo State.
Also, parallel congresses were held in many areas of the state just as some party members were allegedly prevented from participating in the exercise, which took nationwide.
The Secretary to the State Government, Sunday Abegunde and the state Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Jacob Adebo popularly called Idajo were alleged in the alleged irregularities.
It was learnt that Abegunde and Adebo allegedly led the members of the NURTW, who were armed with various dangerous weapons to some centres in various wards in Akure South Local Government Area of the state, to chase out some delegates who were not loyal to him.
In some wards visited by New Telegraph, many party members were seeing running helter-skelter for safety as they were allegedly chased away by the supporters of the SSG. Some members who were perceived to be ‘enemies’ of the SSG were beaten blue-black in many wards.
In Ero/Ibuji Ward in Ifedore Local Government Area, the Congress did not hold as two factions were claiming to be authentic APC members. It involved the intervention of the men of the police and national security and Civil Defence Corps Commands that prevented the situation from degenerating to serious violence.
A member of the House of Representatives representing Akure South/North federal constituency Mr. Afe Olowookere said there was no congress at his ward, saying the SSG led NURTW members to chase APC members away from the voting centres.
His words “What happened in most of the supposed congress centres was that members of the National Union Road Transport Workers in Ondo state led by Idajo took over all the centres armed with different kinds of weapons.
“They wounded some members and did not allow the Congress to hold in all the centres in Akure South. When we discovered that, we appealed to all our members to leave in order to avoid loss of lives.
“We have photo evidence of our claims, of our members who were attacked and wounded. I’ve called the Deputy Governor of the state and reported the development to him. I’ve tried to reach out to Mr. Governor but I couldn’t get him.
“There was no congress anywhere today. The Secretary to the State Government, Ifedayo Abegunde, has said he would impose his list on all of us in the local government area.
“The next line of action is to let the governor and the leadership of the party know about it. We thank God there is provision for appeal, for members to report cases of this nature.
“We are going to approach the committee set up to handle complaints of members about the conduct of the Congress. We are also going to let the leadership of the party aware of what has happened.”
The Chairman of the APC in the state, Ade Adetimehin expressed satisfaction about the conduct of the exercise. He said the Congress was peaceful.
However, all efforts to reach the SSG on the development proved abortive as calls to his telephone was not successful as he did not pick his calls while the text message sent to him was not replied as at the time of this report but the NURTW chairman denied the allegations.
Adebo said: ” It is a lie, I was in my ward in Ward 4, I don’t know anything about it.”
Also, the All Progressives Congress has suspended its governorship primary in Ekiti, following an outbreak of violence.
This was made known via a Facebook post by the Special Assistant Public Communications & New Media at Ekiti State Government of Nigeria, Lere Olayinka.
It was learnt that some persons suspected to be thugs had invaded the venue of the primary, where they smashed a ballot box on the ground, scattering the contents.
It was gathered that the attack caught the policemen at the venue by surprise.
The News Agency of Nigeria quoted the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as saying up to 33 candidates are contesting in the governorship primary, out of which one individual will emerge as the APC flag bearer in the governorship election coming up in July.
Ekiti State is currently being ruled by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.