BREAKING: Sporadic Gunshot, Crisis Stall Early Commencement Of Factional Ogun PDP Governorship Primaries

The ensuing melee between Ladi Adebutu and Jimi Lawal loyalists

ABEOKUTA - Pandemonium broke out at the venue of the Ogun PDP governorship primary election as faction loyal to Hon. Ladi Adebutu disagreed with the Otunba Jimi Lawal faction of the party over the conflicting delegates list.

Crisis when the Chairman of the five-man Ogun PDP governorship election committee, Prof. Akase Sorkaa announced the commencement of the accreditation of delegates.

Immediately the delegates from Ogun East entered the OOPL auditorium of the primary, loyalists of Otunba Jimi Lawal raised eyebrows over the authenticity of the delegates list presented by the electoral committee.

The development which forced the INEC officials to momentarily left the venue for about 30minutes.

Trouble started when the certified true copy of the National delegates list stamped and signed by the INEC Headquarters, Abuja and which was a product of the April 30 state delegates election was presented by the camp of aspirant Jimi Lawal for the purpose of accreditation, but PDP members loyal to Ladi Adebutu also presented another list.

In the ensuing controversy over which of the delegates' list was authentic, discrepancies were noticed on the two lists across 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) while they tallied only in Nine LGAs.

In what could be described as action movie, military men who are heavily armed engaged hoodlums who allegedly prevented delegates entry into the venue of the primary.

For nearly 40 minutes, gun shots rang out repeatedly, forcing some of the delegates as well as party supporters to flee the venue. 

The gunshots were fired by security operatives drafted to maintain peace at the venue, when the agitating crowd became uncontrollable from the two opposing camps.

While the gunshots lasted however, the development gave the needed opportunity for delegates, believed to be loyal to Hon. Ladi Adebutu to gain access into the venue for accreditation which held inside the auditorium of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.

INEC however, returned to the venue, after the state chairman of the party, Hon. Sikirulahi Ogundele had secured the guarantee of the security agencies present.

As at the time of filing this report, the exercise is still on hold.

END