Youths suspected to be political thugs, today, invaded the Bayelsa State Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and held the party’s Election Committee members, led by Idi Adamu hostage for hours, even as policemen released sporadic gunfire to scare the invading youths away.
Reports reaching us indicated that despite the large presence of security operatives, the thugs still went wild and attempted to hijack materials for the conduct of the Federal House of Representatives primaries in the state.
Some journalists who had positioned in the area to witness the distribution of materials for the exercise were forced to run for cover. The incident, according to eyewitnesses, occurred at about 12:00noon
The thugs reportedly arrived the PDP Secretariat in a White Sienna Spacewagon, armed with dangerous weapons including guns.
The invaders were said to have searched those coming out of the secretariat ostensibly for materials meant for the election.
While members of the PDP State Working Committee were thrown into confusion, passersby and commuters along the D.S.P Alamieyeseigha Way took to their heels.
The youths were said to have dispersed and the hostages freed when security reinforcement were deployed to the complex.
It was learnt that the election committee chairman, who had earlier addressed the journalists to witness the distribution of election materials, suspended the conduct of the primaries into the five federal constituencies of the state due to the perceived security threats. This however could not be confirmed.
Party faithful from the Yenagoa and Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituencies of the state nonetheless held the primaries in Yenagoa and Sagbama respectively. [myad]
