Party leaders go physical at headquarters

Chieftains of the Social Democratic Party in Imo went kinetic in the build–up to their state congress billed for the party’s headquarters at  Wetheral Road, Owerri, on Monday.

The rumble began after some Local Government Area chairmen stood against the commencement of the Congress, insisting INEC staffers present must leave.

They also said the party’s internal differences must be resolved before a state Congress would hold.

In the process, the Oguta Local Government Area chapter chairman, Chidi Oziri, and his Okigwe LGA counterpart, Nwankwo Maduka, jad a tiff about maintain decorum.

Punches flew after wards. And the hostilities between the two became contagious among the party leaders.

Addressing our correspondent, the SDP chairman in Owerri zone, Chidiebere Oja, said that the Congress could not go on because they had information that some chieftains of other political parties from the state wanted to implant moles in the party.

“Imo SDP is not for sale. What you saw today is spontaneous combustion of anger by the real members of this party. Those who have worked for years to keep this party alive and moving in the state,” he said.

“They got information that politicians from other political parties from the state want to hijack Imo SDP. We will not allow that to happen. We have asked INEC staff members who came to observe the Congress to go because the Congress will no longer hold. We will communicate them when we resolve the internal differences and fix a new date.”

Others expressed a similar concern.

The state chairman of the party, Ben Anochie, later addressed the crowd, and declared the Congress suspended.