There was pandemonium in Lagos yesterday at the Yard 158 Event Centre along Oregun Road, venue of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primary election, as thugs loyal to different governorship aspirants clashed.
At the end of the primary election, Mr. Jimi Agbaje emerged victorious with a total of 432 votes.
He defeated former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro who polled 346 votes; Babatunde Gbadamosi who scored 21 votes; Adedeji Doherty who polled 21 votes and Tokunbo Kamson who scored 46 votes.
Earlier, trouble started when some supporters of one of the aspirants got to the front of Yard 158 chanting solidarity songs in favour of their aspirant.
Reports have it that not long after the solidarity songs in support of a particular candidate, supporters of another aspirant arrived the scene singing in support of their own, leading to a clash.
In the ensuing battle for supremacy, guns, knives, bottles were deployed with many including a journalist with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Chioma Ugboma, sustaining various degrees of injuries. Security operatives arrested two persons.
It took the prompt intervention of policemen, at the event, who fired teargas canisters into the air to disperse the warring groups. Sniffer dogs were also used to bring the situation under control.
Accreditation of delegates and journalists could not commence until about 3.30pm.
Out of the six aspirants, only Babtunde Gbadamosi, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and Deji Doherty were present as at the time of filing this report.
Voting at the Lagos PDP governorship primary started at about 7.34pm.
Addressing the delegates shortly before the commencement of voting, the chairman of the Electoral Committee, Senator Umar Kumo said 806 delegates, comprising 669 PDP members were drawn from the 241 wards in the state and 137 statutory delegates..
Meanwhile, one of the aspirants, Mrs Modupe Chukwuneke withdrew from the contest shortly before the commencement of voting.
Obanikoro, who spoke to journalists, dismissed speculations that he had been persuaded to withdraw from the race.
“Nobody can persuade me to step down. I resigned the coveted office as Minister for State (Defence). I am here and you all can see despite the rumours, I am here and there is no doubt in my mind that we are going to participate and see this to a logical end.”
On the fracas that ensued earlier, the former Minister said: "We have urged all our supporters to remain calm in the face of intimidation and persecution. Nothing comes easy but we believe that whatever the lord says, shall come to pass.”
Obanikoro’s dismissal of the rumour came even as a major contender in the race, Mr. Jimi Agbaje said he was not sure of winning the primaries.
Agbaje, who is allegedly being backed by Chief Bode George and Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, told journalists at the venue of the exercise: “Elections can be tricky,” saying: “But I have done my work. It is a delegate thing and you can never know how the voting could go. I could win by a wide margin, by a small margin or I could lose.”
He however noted that there was nothing wrong with the party leaders in the state supporting his aspiration, saying that if he emerged, he would give the All Progressives Congress (APC) a serious fight. He promised not to leave the PDP if he does not get the governorship ticket.
For more scintillating and juicy stories, follow the official Naijapals accounts On Twitter- @Naijapals and Facebook - www.facebook.com/naijapals
| Posted: at | |
femjay
beneno
dareper
echeeche
morgrawl231
bankadetoun
okoroj
TRENDING GISTS 
EFCC Boss, Olukoyede Faces Visa Ban Threat Over Yahaya Bello's Case
Moses Bliss Reacts After A Troll Bashes Him For Allowing His Wife Preach Whenever They Go For Events
Manchester United v Arsenal: English Premier League Match,Team News,Goal Scorers and Stats
Your First Salary Belong To Your Father For His Blessings Not to Your Pastor - Kanayo O. Kanayo
JUST IN! Gov. Fubara Relocates Rivers Assembly Sitting To Government House
9yr Old Boy Stabs His 10yr Old Classmate to Death on Their Home From School