Rita Odafe
Protests from dissatisfied members led to the suspension of the Local Government congresses of the Benue State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the weekend. The protests were triggered by alleged changes made to the list from the previous ward congresses and the diversion of congress materials. This follows a period of turmoil in the party since the inconclusive ward congresses held in July.
The list released to party stakeholders in Makurdi on Friday did not match what was recorded during the ward congresses, causing confusion and tension within the party. The party secretariat was heavily guarded by security personnel to prevent any potential disruptions as several youths, believed to be political thugs, gathered at the secretariat chanting support.
Party members and stakeholders anxiously waited at the secretariat for the arrival of electoral officials from the national secretariat in Abuja. The recent ward level congresses have sparked controversies due to the high number of suspensions and counter suspensions of members for alleged anti-party acts.
When the electoral officials from Abuja eventually arrived after a prolonged delay, chaos ensued as they were blocked from distributing materials for the local government congresses. Party members demanded the list of candidates and results from the previous ward congresses, which the officials were unable to provide. In response, the officials were driven out of the secretariat by protesting members.
The caretaker chairman of the party, AVM Napoleon Bali, and his committee members hastily left the secretariat in a convoy to an undisclosed location amidst the escalating tension.
