From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was practically a battleground in the early hours of Friday, as pro and anti-protesters grounded activities, disrupting vehicular and human movement for hours.
Various sources at the secretariat told Daily Sun that the gladiators were supporters loyal and against the Director-General of the APC Almagamated Support Group, Ladan Nasiru, that accused him of operating a one-man show.
What started as a peaceful protest against Nasiru, had degenerated into a full-blown battle when persons loyal to him mobilised anti-protesters that confronted others on peaceful protest.
Visitors and secretariat staff that arrived the headquarters to start the day’s activities scampered for safety as the clash between the pro and anti-protesters escalated into uncontrollable level.
Punches were thrown, dangerous weapons were equally freely used at each other and at the end no fewer than 60 cannister of teargas were used by the combined team of security agents on ground to disperse the protesters and restore sanity at the secretariat.
“The protest was against the DG of the Almagamated Supporter group. The peaceful protesters that first arrived the secretariat in the early hours accused him of eating alone without carrying others along. They had wanted to register their disappointment over Nasiru’s leadership style before the party’s national leadership and end it there.
“But, before you could say Jack Robinson, the DG and his loyalists have mobilised other boys to counter the peaceful protest. And within a twinkle of an eye, everywhere became rowdy forcing few of us to scamper for safety. Severalcannister of teargas were used to disperse them and restore sanity to the secretariat. It was a scary situation really,” the source explained.