Confusion reigned supreme Monday at secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ebonyi state chapter following gunshots by the police to disperse protesting youths led by members of the caretaker committee of the party who moved to take over the party secretariat in Abakaliki.
Our correspondent reported that the caretaker committee led by Elder Fred Udeogu was accompanied by some youth to forcefully take over the party secretariat.
Federal High Court Abuja had in January 2021 issued an order restricting Onyekachi Nwebonyi and his members from parading themselves as PDP members and the leadership of the party.
The court also restricted the Independent National Electoral commission from dealing with them as PDP members.
Based on the order, the Udeogu-led committee tried to take over the secretariat but the police in the state prevented them, arresting the youth leader of the committee, Obinna Iteshi from the secretariat.
When Blueprint visited the area, heavy presence of policemen with armored tanks and other vans belonging to police command in Abakaliki were seen.
It was, however, gathered that both Udeogu’s committee and Nwebonyi committee mobilized youths to the secretariat.
Some youth loyal to the governor of the state were also mobilized to the secretariat via a text message summoning them to rescue a family being attacked by the rampaging youth.
When contacted on phone, the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba who seemed to be very busy at the time of the call, said he was on the matter.
“Please call me back, that is the issue I’m facing now”, he said.
Meanwhile, the state Publicity Secretary of the caretaker committee of the party Silas Onu accused the police of being biased in their work.
In a statement he issued same Monday, Silas regretted that the police has failed in their duty of protecting the lives and property of the masses.
The statement read in part, “Today, we are deeply saddened to report that the lives of Ebonyi people are no longer valuable to those madated to protect them.
“Upon a valid Court order which restrained Nwebonyi and his urchins from parading themselves as leaders or even members of the Peoples Democratic Party, we duly notified the police of our intention to access our secretariat today.
“Upon arrival, the police were obviously ordered to frustrate that effort and they swung into action. Firstly, the Deputy Commissioner in charge of operations asked that we go and obtained an “Enforcement Order” as if the case is one requiring further order(s) to give validity to the initial order – this is laughable”, he said.
