It was a state of pandemonium in the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) scheduled congress in Niger State. Thugs loyal to the party’s chairmanship aspirants engaged one another in a free-for-all. The congress had to be canceled before it even started.
Former Deputy Leader in the House of Representatives, Alhaji Baba Agaie, was manhandled by the thugs. He survived the beating only after he was whisked out of the venue of the congress by heavily armed security men.
An inkling that things were not going to go well was when at 7am, the PDP state secretariat at Western Bypass in Minna, was taken over by supporters of the two contenders.
Agaie, it was gathered, was beaten by thugs loyal to another party chieftain in his own Agaie Local Government Area.
The grouse of the thugs, it was gathered, was because Agaie aligned with the former governor and leader of the party, Dr Babangida Aliyu-led group.
The electoral committee, led by Mallam Mohammed Imam, had to be whisked away from the party’s National Headquarters by security agents to survive the chaos.
The confusion led to the electoral committee to issue a statement in Minna.
The uncertain security situation necessitated the cancellation of the congress.
He said that the congress was postponed 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.
He said that the committee would report to the National Working Committee (NEC) which would determine the next line of action in accordance with the constitution of the party.
The two main contenders were, Tanko Benji, outgoing chairman of the party seeking second term, and Alhaji Mukhtar Ahmed. (NAN)
