Violence mars Kwara PDP congresses

There was tension in Ilorin, Kwara state capital yesterday at the venue of ward congresses of the Kwara state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congresses held in Kwara state.
Blueprint gathered that at least one person was shot at Sango ward following skirmishes that ensued during the exercise.
Our reporter who monitored the congresses observed that though there was a large turnout of party supporters, it was, however, marred by violence in some places.

It was gathered that the exercise turned violent in Sango area of Ilorin when a police man shot into the air in an attempt to control rowdy situation but his gun fell down and was picked by a group of suspected hoodlums who refused to release it to the police.
And in the process to forcefully retrieve the AK-47 rifle from them, another police man was said to have shot at the suspected hoodlums in possession of the gun thereby leading to pandemonium.

Some hoodlums also took the advantage of the crises to set up a burn fire along the area obstructing free flow of traffic.
Similarly, at  Ajikobo central ward of Ilorin West local government area of Kwara state, Blueprint observed that the exercise which started smoothly in the morning with large turnout of members also turned violent around 2pm as it was disrupted mid way.
But the situation degenerated to a rowdy session leading to gun shot into the air. It was not however clear who shot into the air.
A former governor of the state and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr. Bukola Saraki and a PDP chieftain ,Prof. Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem, who is also the chairman, Federal Character Commission (FCC), both hailed from the ward.

Acting chairman of the ward, Alhaji Saliu Ahmed, in a chat with journalists, said the party did not go into consensus arrangement to allow members elect leaders of their choices.

He said despite the defection of the former governor of the state and his supporters to the APC, the party was still strong in the ward.

The state police command confirmed one dead, saying that it had arrested seven persons in connection with the fracas.