There was a tensed atmosphere at the National Headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abuja on Wednesday morning, when supporters of both men claiming to be in control of the party’s structure clashed.
Sacked national chairman of PDP, Ali Modu-Sheriff had forcefully moved into the party’s national headquarters on Monday, claiming that the Ahmed Makarfi elected Caretaker Committee of the party at its Port Harcourt convention was not recognized by the law court.
However, during the protests organised by the two factions, there was no serious trouble caused as policemen and personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, were on ground to ensure there was no cause for alarm.
The demonstrators, mostly youths, stormed the Wadata Plaza of the opposition party in mini busus chanting various songs.
First, anti-Ali Modu Sheriff protesters besieged the secretariat demanding for the for Sheriff to leave the party alone.
They carried placards with the inscriptions “Sheriff must go”, “Sheriff leave our party alone” and “Agent of APC stop killing our party”.
Just as the anti-Sheriff protesters retreated to have a rest, the anti-Ahmed Makarfi demonstrators started chanting songs in support of Sheriff.
Some of them wore T-shirts embossed with Sheriff’s portrait, while also carrying placards saying “Sheriff MUST stay” and “Sheriff is our man.”
