Two PDP factions clash over who takes party secretariat in Ebonyi

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4 years ago

Two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State on Monday clashed when the Elder Fred Udeogu-led faction made moves to take over the party’s secretariat in Abakaliki.

The move by the Udeogu-led faction of the party to take over the party secretariat followed a Federal High Court order restraining factional Chairman of the party, Barr. Onyekachi Nwebonyi, to desist from parading himself as the chairman and member of the party.

Youths loyal to the Udeogu-led executives of the PDP gained entrance into the secretariat but were not allowed to access various offices within the complex.

It took the intervention of the police and other security agencies to disperse the crowd and avert any form of breakdown of law and order.

A press statement signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Barr. Silas Joseph Onu stated that: “Upon a valid court order which restrained Nwebonyi and his urchins from parading themselves as leaders or even members of the People’s 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 obtain an “Enforcement Order” as if the case is one requiring further order (s) to give validity to the initial order – this is laughable!

“The Police came and began to arrest our members on a spurious claim that the already vandalised Secretariat is now being vandalised today. Later today, Mr Nwebonyi will hold a press conference alleging this falsehood as a cover-up for his criminal act of wilful vandalism and stealing of PDP properties. We have made this complaint a long time ago, but the police have either refused, neglected or failed to even open an investigation.”

Reacting to the development, the factional Chairman of the Party, Barr Nwebonyi described the incident that occurred at the secretariat as unfortunate claiming that the other faction of the party went violently to destroy the secretariat.

“If not for the intervention of the security forces, they would have set my office ablaze. I am a young man and I don’t believe in violence. I went to court to prove my case. Udeogu should wait till 2024 when my tenure will elapse.

“He needs to be told the legal end of this matter. I was duly elected. It’s only NEC that can query me whenever I err. I challenge our national chairman to brief the world on what he discussed with Governor David Umahi before the defection took place.

“I have detailed my lawyer on this matter. I won’t respond to them through violence. I am a child of God. Let the court determine the matter.”

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