3 Dead At Kwara PDP Ward Congress

Three people were said to have  been killed in Ilorin yesterday when supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in  Kwara State engaged themselves in sporadic shootings over alleged imposition of ward executives of the party.

Our correspondent  who monitored the congress observed that the exercise was marred by violence in some places.

It was gathered that the exercise turned violent in Sango area of Ilorin when a policeman fired shots into the air in an attempt to control the rowdy situation but his gun dropped and was picked up by a group of suspected hoodlums who refused to release it to him.

The development prompted the police to forcefully retrieve the AK-47 rifle from the hoodlums and in the process, another policeman shot at the suspected hoodlums in possession of the gun.

Some hoodlums also took advantage of the crisis to set up a bonfire along the area, thereby obstructing free flow of traffic.

Similarly, at  Ajikobo Central Ward of Ilorin West local government area of the  state,  the exercise which started smoothly in the morning with a large turn out of members also turned violent  as it was disrupted midway.

Confirming  the incident, the state police commissioner, Mr. Ambrose Aisabor said only one person died while seven people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

PDP Boycotts LG Rerun Election In Nasarawa

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State yesterday boycotted the rerun elections organised by the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) in the three local government areas the exercise was declared inconclusive.

A statement by the chairman of the PDP in Akwanga local government, Idris Jidde, said he was amazed that NASIEC was holding rerun elections when his party’s candidate in the March 22 election, Emmanuel Bakyu, was declared winner and issued a certificate of return by the returning officer as stipulated by the Nasarawa Electoral Law 2013 as amended.

“PDP won election in Akwanga and was returned and cannot be part of any other rerun election because it is a clear violation of the state Electoral Law,” he said.

In the early hours of the morning, youths protesting against the rerun elections blocked all the major roads in Akwanga town with burning tyres until a combined team of soldiers and police dispersed the youths before election was conducted.

The same scenario played out in Obi and Nasarawa local government areas where PDP felt it won the election but NASIEC decided to step it down in violation of the electoral law.

LEADERSHIP reports that the election was conducted peacefully in all the three local government areas.

Source: Leadership