From Yakubu Busari ,Jos
Pandemonium broke out on Monday at the secretariat of the state branch of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Jos, when security personnel attached to the Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District, Sen Istisfanu Dalyop Gyang allegedly used live bullets on loyalists of the acting Chairman, Hon Amos Goyol Gombi.
The commotion, according to investigation, followed an attempt by a faction of the party yet to come to terms with the appointment of the acting Chairman by the National Working Committee of the party, to forcefully take over the state secretariat and convene a meeting there. The feuding faction is led by Chris Hassan and supported by the Senator.
The melee led to the blockage of vehicular movement around NTA Jos for a few hours before a quick response by a detachment from the state command of the Nigeria Police Force restored normalcy.
Addressing a press conference at the state secretariat on Monday, the former Speaker of the Assembly, Hon Emmanuel Goar, said “regrettably a serving Senator has caused security personnel attached to him to use ammunition on the Ag Chairman, Hon Amos Gombi.
He said a personal assistant to the Acting Chairman, one Mr Mathew, was beaten to comma, when Senator Gyang security guard landed at the secretariat.
He described the exercise as null and void and a failed coup designed to cause division among the people of Plateau State.
Goar was accompanied by the deputy governorship candidate of the party in the 2019 election, Dr James Dalop, Hon. Bugama, Hon. NaAllah Mutban and some of their youthful supporters.
He said “ what happen in the early hours of Monday at about 6am was orchestrated to disrupt the peace of the state chapter. As an executive member of the PDP in Plateau state, I have a stake in the entire effort to strengthen PDP, hence this press conference.
“We woke up this morning to hear that a fresh plot had been hatched by some of the members to hold a kangaroo meeting at 6am with the aim to oust acting Chairman, Gombi.
Goar explained that the issues that led to the crisis in the party have been brought to a close by the national secretariat which urged the 16 members who petitioned it to tender unreserved apology following which former Chairman Dimishi Sango was asked to resign and Deputy Chairman, Amos Gombi appointed to act in his place.
“The purported meeting held this morning is hereby declare as null and void because the order did not come from the Ag Chairman of the PDP in Plateau state,” he said
He registered his dismay that a “responsible Senator brought in security guard to harass our party loyalist by threatening their lives.”
“I want to advice them to follow the rule of law. They should follow the right channel to express their grievances rather than resorting to having a kangaroo meeting in the state to cause disaffection.
Attempts to reach Senator Gyang for his reaction failed as he and his media assistant failed to pick calls put to their phones or return the calls. Chris Hassan too would not entertain any question.
