Ahead of the National Convention
of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), members of the National Assembly caucus
of the party reportedly exchanged blows at the residence of a former Governor
of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, over the choice of the next
national chairman of the party.
Akpabio, who is the Minority
Leader in the Senate convened a session at his residence in Asokoro District,
Abuja Thursday night on how to ensure a free and fair convention.
The session was attended by
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Chairmanship aspirant, Uche Secondus
amongst others.
A source who was at the meeting
told The Nation that the discussion on chairmanship aspirants had barely
started when an argument ensued leading to blows.
He said “The Senate Minority
Leader convened the session in his house to enable us interact with all the
aspirants on their programmes and form our opinion on who to vote for.
“We were barely settling down for
the session when some members of the House of Representatives raised issues
concerning some aspirants for the office of the National Chairman and others
disagreed.
“The development led to shouting
match and fisticuffs among some Senators and members of the House of
Representatives.
“The rowdy session was witnessed
by the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, and some of the
aspirants in attendance, including a leading candidate, Prince Uche Secondus.”
Another source who pleaded
anonymity said: “The meeting ended abruptly when some lawmakers started
exchanging blows over who should lead the party.
“I think the clash was a
carry-over of some political misunderstanding among some members of the
National Assembly in some states over the choice of chairman for PDP. But we
all bore the brunt of the fisticuffs.”
A member of the House of
Representatives, who was hit at the session, said: “I think some of our
colleagues at the session were just being overzealous by taking sides. They
misread the intent of what we were to do.
“The assumption was that the
session was meant to adopt a candidate for the Office of National Chairman of
PDP.”
Akpabio’s spokesman, Mr. Jackson
Udom,when contacted on the issue said he does not speak on political matters.
“Why can’t you get in touch with
the Senate Minority Leader himself? I do not speak on party matters,” he said
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