By Fadlillah Abdallah el-Kurebe
The Northwest zonal congress of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, scheduled to hold in Kaduna was disrupted by thugs alleged to have acted on the script of former Kano governor, Rabi’u Kwankwaso on Saturday.
Some eye-witnesses, who spoke with ASHENEWS alleged that the thugs wore red caps, emblem of the Kwankwaso movement and trooped in to the International Trade Fair Complex, venue of the congress in hundreds were shouting ‘Sai Kwankwaso’ (meaning ‘Kwankwaso Only’).
“The thugs were wearing the insignia of the Kwankwasiya movement, which is led by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. They stormed the venue of the congress, after the delegates had already been accredited and Kebbi state delegates were already voting. They destroyed election materials, including ballot boxes and papers after the congress had started,” an eye-witness who identified himself as Isa Dan Malam said.
A PDP stalwart, who preferred that his name be kept anonymous, also told ASHENEWS that, “Thugs wearing red caps came in midway when Kebbi delegates were voting. They were shouting ‘Sai Kwankwaso’; they entered and started destroying ballot boxes, tables etc. Delegates scampered for safety,” he said.
“Thereafter, a meeting of governors and party elders was convened, which held for about an hour. A decision was taken to postpone the congress. former Jigawa governor, Sule Lamido, who spoke on behalf of other leaders of the party at the meeting, blamed Kwankwaso for the disruption, even though the former Kano governor denied having anything to do with the thugs.
“Meanwhile, another meeting has been scheduled to hold at former Sokoto governor’s Bafarawa house in Abuja where issues would be thrashed,” the source further said..
Another source told ASHENEWS that Senator Bello Hayatu was reportedly favoured to win the position of National Vice Chairman of the party against Kwankwaso’s perceived candidate, Mohammed Jamiu.
ASHENEWS recalls that earlier last week, Kwankwaso alleged in an interview with the BBC that Sokoto governor Aminu Tambuwal was trying to factionalise the PDP in Kano state, an allegation that the governor denied also in an interview with the BBC.
