Explosions, Gun Shots As Bayelsa Holds PDP Ward Congress

By Asolo Eyedoude

Explosions and sporadic gunshots accompanied by pockets of protests today marred the conduct of the ward congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the election of ad-hoc delegates in the 105 wards of Bayelsa State on Friday.

While the dynamite explosion and sporadic gunshots were heard a few meters away from the State Secretariat along Lambert Eradiri Road, protesters against the conduct of the Ad-hoc delegate election barricaded the entrance of the party Secretariat.

GreenWhiteGreen gathered that though the PDP secretariat was condoned off by heavy presence of soldiers and combatant policemen, the contending groups within the PDP mobilised hundreds of suspected thugs and cultists to the venue.

Some eyewitnesses claimed the chairman of the Ward Congresses Electoral Committee for the Conduct of Ad-Hoc Delegate Election, Governor David Umahi left the PDP Secretariat for Former President Goodluck Jonathan residence after the distribution of election materials.

Others claimed the dynamite explosion caused the crowd of agitated party supporters to scamper for safety while Governor David Umahi and other members of the committee left the secretariat.

Contacted on the incident, the State Publicity secretary, Barr. Osom Macgbere said the incident does not have anything to do with the congress, ‘I was told the dynamite explosion occured few meters away from the party secretariat.’

But a chieftain of the PDP and State Commissioner of Information,  Hon. Daniel Iworiso-Markson hailed the conduct of the party’s ward congress across the 105 wards in the state as peaceful.

Iworiso-Markson, who took part in the exercise in his Ward 11 Opume community in Ogbia local government area, said the reports from all other wards in the state also indicated that the congress was peaceful and without any form of manipulation.

He commended the Governor Dave Umahi led committee for ensuring that the process was transparent, fair and credible and also thanked officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who were on ground to monitor the ward delegate congress.

Iworiso-Markson also congratulated Williams Adike, Joy Otobo and Johnbull Azibataman on their emergence as delegates from ward 11 that will vote in the September 3 governorship primary.

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