Crisis: factional PDP move to take over Secretariat, aborted

Fred Udeogu-led Peoples Democratic Party’s move to take over the party Secretariat on Monday was aborted by the Police in Ebonyi state.

Udeogu-led faction had gone to take over the PDP Secretariat at Abakaiki /Enugu Highway, on getting the hint, Nwebonyi-led faction made their way to the venue.

Fortunately, policemen deployed to the area on sensing danger, decided to lock the party Secretariat gate denying both factions access to the Secretariat.

Police fired gun shots in the air to disperse the crowd, while the youth leader of Udeogu-led faction and others yet to be identified were arrested by the police.

The Udeogu-led faction had earlier accused the Nwebonyi-led faction of plotting to set the party Secretariat ablaze.

Recall that both factions have been in court over leadership tussle.

In his reaction, Nwebonyi who said that they were in court over legitimacy of the Udeogu faction wondered why they could not wait for the court judgement.

He denied allegation of conniving with thugs to set Secretariat ablaze, and insisted he the authentic leader of PDP is in the state.

He said: “I want to answer this question by asking you a question. Who is that person that will burn down his own house? I am the authentic chairman of PDP in Ebonyi state.”

“I am in my office and as I’m talking to you, I’m addressing you from my office. How can I set my own office ablaze? Is it thinkable that a man can set his own house ablaze? He should be the one, I’m suspecting to be nursing such idea. He cannot achieve that because I’m properly seated in my office. They security agencies are there to protect the office”, he said.

On his part, Udeogu stated: “We are not deterred by whatever threats, they are making. The threatened to burn down the Secretariat of PDP, it is not reasonable. We know those who are planning it and we know their names. We know the people that slept behind the party Secretariat last night.”

“Last night, Onyekachi Nwebonyi led a motley crowd and made a concerted effort to burn down the State Secretariat of the PDP in Abakaliki. If not for the prompt response of some of our members, the building would have been razed down by this morning. They were resisted and repelled effectively.”

“Now that the Governor has resolved to using extreme measures in making his political point, his plans to throw the State into full scale crisis may soon happen, if the security agencies do not call him to order.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Information and State Orientation, Uchenna Orji, said governor David Umahi has no time to respond to such allegations.

“I think the man has issues and that’s not the actual way to do politics. Its not by blackmail. We cannot join issues with him. He is behaving like a sinking man.”

“A party Secretariat that was built by the governor when he was a party chairman, which gave him the credential as the best chairman then.”

“The party office that seems to be the biggest in Africa. And so, we are looking for more development in Ebonyi state. We are not distracted. We have no time to really exchange words with him”, he stated

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