The national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in a frenzy on Friday, June 17, 2016 as angry supporters of the two major interest groups occupied the area.
When Pulse.ng arrived the Wadata Plaza, the mob, mostly young males between the ages of 18 and 25 were seen armed with sticks, stones and cutlasses.
"Sheriff must go!" "Sheriff is our choice!" They said singing different songs and chanting party slogans.
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Mobs at the entrance of the PDP Secretariat (Pulse)
Upon investigation, it was discovered they were supporters of immediate past chairman of the PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and the Caretaker Committee chairman, Ahmed Makarfi.
"These people have been here since Monday. After Makarfi left here on Tuesday, his supporters locked the gates to the building and handed over the keys to the chairman of the Board of Trustees. In the night, Sheriff's people came and destroyed the locks," a source told our correspondent.
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Mob at the PDP secretariat, Abuja (Pulse)
The source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the protesters have been receiving a daily payment of N1500.
"As you can see, these politicians are just taking advantage of these boys. Their thugs will just get these boys who don't have jobs to do, pay them N1500 everyday for them to waste away here. If you come here later, you will see them drinking and smoking their lives away," he said.
Attempts to speak with the protesters was unsuccessful as they could barely speak in English language. However, Chibuike Nwachukwu who identified himself as the PDP youth leader is of the view that Sheriff was hired by the APC to destroy the PDP.
He however denied allegations that he hired the crowd to drum support for Makarfi.
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Mob at the PDP National secretariat (Pulse)
"We are not in support of Sheriff or Makarfi but we are here to protect the party which is the platform we have as future leaders.
"We were here till all the national working committee members left and we locked the building and handed the key over to the BoT chairman. In the evening, Sheriff's group reinforced themselves, came back and destroyed the locks.
"All we want is that Sheriff should leave PDP alone if he cannot maintain peace. How can we Edo and Ondo elections coming up. How can we win these election with this crisis? We believe that Sheriff was hired by the APC to destroy our party," he said angrily.
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Protesters clash at PDP National Secretariat (Pulse)
A security operative who has been on ground to maintain law and order at the premises stated that Wale Oladipo and Deji Adeyanju (both Sherrif's supporters) narrowly escaped death on Wednesday, June 15, 2016.
He said both men drove out in Oladipo's car through the gate of the neighbouring Sky Memorial Complex to avoid encounters with the irate crowd. Adeyaju was said to have abandoned his Toyota Camry with registration number Lagos - APP 767CK in the premises.
"We had to intervene, else they would have destroyed Deji's car" he said.
Ali Modu Sheriff had declared himself as theauthentic chairman of the PDP after he gained entrance into the party secretariat on Monday, June 13.
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