Convention: Ex-Anambra PDP Chairman Kidnapped

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Haliru Bello

The battle over who becomes the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Thursday took a new dimension, as the former chairman of the party in Anambra State, Chief Ifeatu Obiokoye, was reportedly abducted by suspected gunmen.

In Makurdi, the Benue State capital, an Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) chieftain, who was recently declared winner of the 2011 election into the Buruku Federal House of Representatives seat, Mr. Sekav Iyortyom, escaped death by the whiskers few days ago when suspected gunmen attacked and inflicted serious body injuries on him in Nasarawa State.

But Obiokoye, who had filed an originating summons challenging the qualification of PDP’s National Vice-Chairman South-east, Chief Olisa Metuh, to contest the National Publicity Secretary zoned to the South-east, was said to be on his way to obtain a court order restraining Metuh from contesting when he was abducted.

The duo of Chief Okey Muoh-Aroh, Chief Chike Udenze and Metuh from Anambra State are contesting for the post of National Publicity Secretary of PDP.

It was alleged that Obiokoye was heading to the state High Court, when two vehicles double-crossed him, ordered him out of his car at gun point and forced him to join one of their vehicles, while another gunman drove his car behind the convoy.

However, several attempts to reach his captors on phone proved abortive as his phone had been switched off. As at the time of filing this report, his abductors had not spoken or made any contact with his family or office.

Meanwhile, Iyortyom while narrating his ordeal to journalists in Makurdi, said the incident took place at Gugi village, between Keffi and Akwanga in Nasarawa State.

He said his attackers waylaid him while on his way from Abuja to Makurdi where he attended a court session.

According to him, the armed men who barricaded the road at Gugi attacked him and his lawyer dispossessing them of monies and other valuables after which they threatened to kill him.

“The armed men dragged me out of the vehicle threatening to kill me but after much pleadings they slammed by face on the tarred road, dragging me on the ground. They finally left me in my pool blood thinking that I was dead,” he said.

Prior to his kidnap, it was gathered that the originating summons filed by Obiokoye in suit No A/90/2012 through his proxy Emeka Amobi vs PDP, Olisa Metuh, the applicant had sought for the following reliefs.

A declaration that the 1st Respondent having lost his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party in January, 2011 is not eligible to contest for the post of the National Publicity Secretary of the Party at the National Convention scheduled to be held on March 24.

An order of Court directing the 2nd Respondent to disqualify the 1st Respondent from contesting for the post of the National Publicity Secretary of the People Democratic Party, the National Convention of the Party Scheduled to be held on the March 24.

The applicant had asked the court to determine whether having regard to the combined provision of Article 8 (9) and 8(10) of the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party, a member of the party who has lost his membership can with a period of not les than a year thereof be eligible to contest for a party office without an exemption by the National Working Committee of the party.

Another poser he raised was whether having regards to the provision of Article 10 (b) (i) and 10(b) (ii) of the constitution of the People Democratic Party, a member of the party who looses his membership pursuant to the provisions of Article 10 can be eligible to contest for a party office within the period of the loss of membership.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, told journalists that investigations had commenced on the incident to unravel those behind Obiokoye’s kidnap as well as the circumstances which led to his abduction.

Iyortyom was declared by the Court of Appeal in Makurdi as the winner of the Buruku Federal Constituency seat on the platform of the ACN refused to point accusing finger on any direction adding that the matter is being investigated by law enforcement agencies.