Asornists set Rivers PDP secretariat on fire

PORT HARCOURT – A part of the Rivers state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was gutted by fire in the early hours of Friday.

Vanguard gathered that the timely intervention of those around saved the building from being consumed by the fire. A source said the fire was even put out before arrival of fire fighters from the state. It could not be confirmed if documents were destroyed.

The state Chairman of the party, Mr Felix Obuah who spoke on the incident blamed it on those whom he alleged did not want the party ward congress slated for tomorrow to hold.

It is not clear if he referred to the opposition parties in the state or opposition within the party. The PDP has been enmeshed in internal crisis in the last four months with some of the party members calling for the dissolution of the state leadership on the ground that it is allegedly acting the script of the former Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike, an allegation the party leadership had continued to deny. On his part, Wike who is also contesting for the party’s ticket for the next governorship election also dismissed the allegation as false.

Meantime, about fifteen governorship aspirants of the party Thursday called on the national leadership of the party to ensure the governorship ticket did not go to an Ikwerre man, apparently referring to Nr Wike who is from Ikwerre. According to them it would amount to injustice if another Ikwerre man succeeded governor Chibuike Amaechi who is from Ikwerre.

Some of them also accused the state leadership of the party of moving to install Wike as the party’s candidate.

The state Chairman of the party, Mr Obua said the congress would still go ahead inspite of the protest and complaints

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