One person was reported dead and no fewer than 20 others sustained gun shot and machete injuries in Bayelsa State yesterday following clashes between supporters of Deputy Governor Peremobowei Ebebi and Commissioner of Conflict Resolution and Youth Affairs, Bekes Etifa over the control of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structure in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state during yesterday’s chairmanship primaries in the council.
The rival groups were said to have first confronted themselves at the Bomadi waterside in Delta State while trying to board speedboats to Ekeremor to participate in the primaries and again at Ekeremor when the deputy governor’s candidate lost out in the primaries.
Already, factions of the party have started making accusations over the conduct of the primaries as allegations of irregularities continues to make the rounds even as some persons have been threatening that they would seek redress in the law court to challenge the controversial election.
THISDAY gathered that an alleged face-off between Governor Timipre Sylva and his deputy, Ebebi, was responsible for the clashes at Ekeremor where Ebebi comes from.
The violence by aggrieved party faithful is generating another tension in the state, as the result of the election could not be ascertained at press time even as reports have it that the Ebebi candidate lost in the primaries.
Crisis in the party is deepening as chairmanship aspirants sponsored by the deputy governor Speaker of the House of Assembly, Werinipre Seibarugu, and Deputy Speaker, Nestor Binabo, were said to have lost in Ekeremor, Yenagoa, and Sagbama, respectively.
Seibarugu is reportedly kicking over the candidature of an ace comedian cum politician, Mike Ogbolosingha, who won the Yenagoa Council Chairmanship of the party.
Nov292009