THE crisis rocking Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party took a frightening dimension of Friday as security men sealed the State secretariat of a faction loyal to the Senator Ahmed Makarfi led faction in the state.
Security Operatives comprising men of Plateau State Police Command and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps took over the secretariat as early as 7:00 am, preventing human and vehicular movement in and out of the of the premises along Yakubu Gowon way while attempts by members and staff to gain access to the secretariat proved abortive.
Saturday Tribune learnt that the situation would have snowballed into crisis between members of Makarfi and Sheriff Faction as the latter were also on standby to enter the secretariat while Makarfi faction considered as the legal occupants were also on ground to prevent former from gaining access to the premises.
Tribune Online learnt that the deployment of security men to the secretariat was on the order of Sheriff lead faction who had earlier notified the State Police Command and NCDC of its intention to take over the secretariat on Friday based on the directive by the National Secretariat of the party.
However, the stern looking security men opened the gate for the state chairman of Makarfi led faction Hon D.T. Sango to enter the secretariat when he arrived while other party members who had been fenced out joined him.
Addressing members of the party within the party secretariat, Hon. Sango who exonerated the National Chairman of the Party Senator Modu Sheriff from the crisis in the party added that those behind rival faction in the state were being sponsored by the power that be in Plateau State.
“There is no basis for any faction on the Plateau, a congress was conducted and winners emerged without any rancor. I want to believe that it is the power that be on the Plateau that is sponsoring this group and they are doing that because of the local government election. They are not prepared, but we are fully prepared, I want to advise them that sponsoring crisis in PDP will not give them victory.”
“They simply want to reap where they did not sow, the coup will not succeed, and they are working for the opposition. We are fully prepared for local government elections. If they are ready let them release the time table,” he said.
In his reaction, the state chairman of Senator Modu Ali Sheriff led faction, Hon Gyang Badung said Sango led state executives have been sacked as a result of the irregularities that marred the state congress that brought them on board adding that the National Secretariat of the party has since written to security agencies in the state on the recognition of his group and the need to take over the party secretariat in the state.
“But we rescind our decision to take over the secretariat today as a result of the advice from the security agencies because the faction loyal to Hon Sango flooded the secretariat with thugs ready to unleash mayhem on people. But because we are law abiding members we decided to withdraw, however, it is a matter of time, we shall take over” he said.