29 February 2008
Lagos — Supporters of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and those of the Action Congress (AC) yesterday clashed in Yola with about three persons feared dead.
Five other supporters of the AC were reported dead in a road crash while travelling from Madasali to Yola to solidarise with the party's governorship candidate, Alhaji Ibrahim Bapetal.
However, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday defied separate court orders restraining it from conducting the state congresses in Oyo and Anambra.
It also came on a day the main actors in the April 12 governorship battle in the state - Admiral Nyako (PDP) and Alhaji Ibrahim Bapatel (AC) arrived the state capital, Yola to launch their campaigns for the election.
Supporters of the PDP allegedly laid ambush for those of AC close to Chonchi Bridge. The AC supporters were said to be on their way to a rally. Dangerous weapons were freely used in the ensuing confrontation.
Admiral Nyako, whose election as governor was upturned by the appeal Court on Tuesday also addressed a rally in the state capital, vowing to return as governor. The rally was attended by Chief Bode George, Senator Jubril Aminu and other other party bigwigs.
Parallel congresses of the party were also held in Edo and Enugu while a faction elected a new executive in defiance of an order of the party caucus in Bayelsa.
However, former Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, who presided over the Ogun PDP congress lamented that the nullification of the victorious of the party by the courts in some states was a serious indictment on the party.
The Oyo PDP, led by Ibadan veteran politician defied a court order obtained by Saka Rashidi, Ajao Jide and Adeosu Adebiyi restraining the party and its chairmen in the state, Chief Dejo Afolabi, their agents, officers or any other person "howsoever described from conducting and participating in the forthcoming ward, local government and state congresses of the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party slated for 21, 25 and 28 of February, 2008 pending the determination of the motion on notice."
PDP defies court order, holds congress in Oyo
The party and some of its chieftains assembled yesterday at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba and elected officers ahead of the forthcoming national convention.
Among those at the venue of the congress were Chief Adedibu, Governor Adebayo-Alao Akala, his deputy, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja, former military Governor of Lagos State, Brig.-Gen. Raji Rasaki (rtd), Mr. Femi Lanlehin, and Mr. Hazeem Gbolarumi.
The leader of a five-member National Convention/Congress Monitoring team, Alhaji Salihu Zubair, denied knowledge of any court injunction restraining the party, saying "there were rumours that some people went to court to stop this congress. This committee is not aware of such court order as we were not served. The congress is legal and the outcome will be valid."
At the end of the programme, all the former executives of the party were returned.
They are the State Chairman, Chief Dejo Afolabi; Vice-Chairman, Alhaji Kunmi Mustafa, Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yahaya Adetunji and the Legal Officer, Mr. Adeolu Adebayo.
Akala, described the aggrieved members who went to court as perpetual agitators and expired politicians who are bereft of ideas.
Adedibu described the congress as satisfactory, adding that due consultations were made before the party executives emerged.
...also in Anambra
The story was not different in Anambra, where a faction of the party loyal to Mr. Andy Uba conducted the state congress in spite of a state High Court order restraining the two factions in the party from holding the congress.
The interim order of injunction was granted one of the aspirants to the post of State Chairman of the party, Chief Ken Emeakayi, who alleged that the party was not following the guidelines of the PDP in the conduct of the ward, local and state congresses.
Part of the court order granted by Justice B. A Nwankwo and endorsed by a Senior Registrar I, L. C. Uyanwa reads: "That an interim order of injunction shall be and is hereby granted restraining the 1st to 9th defendants/respondents from organising and conducting state congress for purposes of electing state officers of PDP in Anambra State pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in this suit by the plaintiff/applicant."
Joined in the suit are the National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, National Secretary, Dr. Benard Eze, Chairman of the National Convention Committee, Chief Bode George, Anambra State Chairman of PDP, Chief Tony Nwoye, the State Congress Committee Chairman, Chief Frank Oramulu, PDP State Secretary, Dr. Tony Akachukwu, state chairmanship aspirant, Mr. Bright Nebedum and Chief Anayo Nebe, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, who heads a faction of the State Congress Committee.
The two factions of the party, one led by the State Chairman, Comrade Tony Nwoye and the other led by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Anayo Nebe, who was appointed Chairman, State Congress Committee by Dr. Andy Uba, fixed parallel state congresses at Women Development Centre and White View Hotel, Awka, respectively.
However, the Tony Nwoye/Frank Oramuluu group did not hold the congress in compliance with the court order of the Ihiala High Court.
At the White View Hotel, the Nebe faction adopted a consensus list of state executive officers with Mr. Bright Nebedum as Chairman.
Nebe said the consensus list was resolved at following the withdrawal of some contestants to the various positions in the state exco.
Those elected by consensus were Bright Nebedum (Chairman), Wilson Anekwe (Deputy Chairman), Innocent Anumba (Vice-Chairman, South), Uche Ezeliora (Vice-Chairman, Central), Ike Enwezor (Vice-Chairman, North), Edwin Okwuosa (State Secretary), Jude Akunna (Asst. Secretary, South), Joe Ezeatu (Asst. Sec, Central), Kennedy Moyah (Asst. Sec, North), and Sabastine Uzowulu (Treasurer), among others.
The motion for the adoption of the consensus list was moved by Chiedu Enemuo and was adopted by voice vote.
Dr. Andy Uba who was accompanied to the venue by Senators Ikechukwu Obiora and Joy Emordi, Minister for Transport (Water), Chief John Emeka and members of the House of Representatives, in his speech said the party was not quarrelling with anybody and called on PDP members, who are aggrieved to come back to the fold.
"We are not quarrelling with anybody. Our house is open. We are not driving anybody away. This is one family. All those who are aggrieved should come back to their house where they rightly belong."
The congress was monitored by a national officer of the party, Otunba Adewale Idowu from Ogun State and INEC officials led by Mr. Mike Nwuneli.
Parallel congresses in Enugu
The two factions of the party in Enugu State conducted parallel congress. One faction is led by Governor Sullivan Chime while the other is loyal to former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani.
At the party congress held by the faction loyal to former Gov. Nnamani, Mr. Ray Nnaji emerged chairman while Mr. Augustine Ike Eneh was elected as State Secretary, among other members elected into the State Executive Committee of the party.
Senator Nnamani and a member of the Federal House of Representatives from the state, who doubled as a Returning Officer for the State Congress, K. G. B. Oguakwa were among chieftains of the party at the congress.
The congress was supervised by four members of the State Congress Monitoring Committee, led by Mohammed Yunusa as Chairman. Three members of the committee, Johnson Akinsehinwa, Kayode Bankole, and Mrs. Basheba Riki, as well as some officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the state were present.
The other congress held at the Hotel Presidential, Enugu by the Chime faction had in attendance the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and Gov. Chime. It was monitored by only one member of the congress committee, Alhaji Aminu Mohammed Gumel, Engr. Vita Abba emerged State Chairman.
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