Many supporters of Magnus Abe and other political aspirants scampered for safety on Wednesday at the All Progressives Congress secretariat in Port Harcourt as security operatives opened to scare away protesters during the party’s screening exercise.
Hundreds of the APC members loyal to a former federal lawmaker, Senator Magnus Abe, thronged the premises, alleging hijack of state assembly aspirants screening and ward/state delegate selection.
The aggrieved party members said they arrived at the secretariat around 6:00 am only to meet the gate under lock and key.
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But trouble started when some of the youths attempted to force open the gates which prompted the policemen stationed inside the party secretariat to shoot into the air.
The shooting caused pandemonium in the area as journalists covering the protesters and newsmen covering the event scampered for safety.
The protracted crisis in Rivers APC has remained a big challenge on its path to winning elections in the state.
It became intractable when the party was split into two in 2015. At that time the Rotimi Amaechi led-faction and that of Abe were unable to resolve their differences both in 2015 and 2019.
While Amaechi opposed Abe and endorsed Dakuku Peterside in 2015 and Tonye Cole in 2019, the parallel primaries caused the court to exclude the party from participating in all the elections