Police seal Anambra PDP secretariat

• Protests greet Imo PDP ad-hoc delegate primary
The protracted leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State peaked yesterday as police sealed the secretariat.

Before the police take-over, two different factions locked horns over the party’s leadership.

While the Ndubuisi Nwobu-led executive claimed to be recognised by Wadata Plaza, another group led by the legal adviser, Nwadozie Ndubisi; and the vice chairman (Anambra South), Marcel Anyiam, also claimed to be in control.

The group accused Nwobu of abandoning his duty to join “illegal committee”, and declared his position vacant.

“Nwobu has abandoned his position as state party chairman, littered his executive members. His chairmanship position is now vacant. Nwobu is no longer the party chairman, while the state secretary, Sir Emeka Obi, is now acting chairman, because our tenure will last for four years having been elected in December 2017,” Ndubisi said.

However, Nwobu, who had briefed the press earlier, maintained that he was the authentic state chairman, having been recognised by the national headquarters in Abuja.

He accused external forces of sponsoring some people to cause problem in the party to disrupt preparations for the 2019 general election.

Dissatisfied by the conduct of the three-man delegate ad-hoc primary on Sunday by Imo PDP, party faithful staged protests yesterday at the party’s secretariat along Okigwe Road, Owerri.

The protesters cited alleged irregularities such as snatching of electoral materials, imposition of candidates and diversion of results sheets.

The ad-hoc delegate primary served as the window to test the popularity of the governorship aspirants.

It took the intervention of the police to disperse the protesters, largely youths, who set bonfires on the road, in front of the secretariat.

The major contenders are the former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, and Chief Samuel Anyanwu, representing Imo East (Owerri district), in the Senate.