20 injured as PDP, APC supporters clash in Abia

Just about one month after three workers of Isiala Ngwa North
council area reportedly lost their lives during the People’s
Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship primaries in the area,
tragedy was on Wednesday averted in Abia State as
supporters of the PDP and All Progressive Congress (APC),
were said to have clashed at Mgboko Obete community in
Obingwa council area of the state.

Reports have it that the PDP were on a campaign tour in the
area when yet-to-be identified persons embarked on
destroying posters belonging to the chairmanship and
councillorship candidates of the APC in the Obingwa LGA,
leading to a free for all which ensued between the loyalists
and supporters of the respective party candidates.

Narrating his ordeal to newsmen, the APC Councillorship
candidate for Ward six, Obingwa council area,
Chinonso Friday who claimed to have been injured in the
attack, accused the PDP of hiring thugs to destroy his
campaign posters and some residents of the area for
questioning their actions.

VOTE IFEANYI ISIKAKU FOR CHAIRMAN ISIALA NGWA SOUTH

According to him,” The PDP came on a campaign tour in my
community but instead of going for what they came for, they
chose to destroy APC campaign posters. When residents of
the community confronted them, they attacked them with
dangerous weapons. As at now, over 20 residents of my
community are receiving medical attention as a result of the
injuries they sustained in the attack. If I had not restrained
APC supporters from retaliating, many people would have lost
their lives. I reported the incident to the Police, the PDP to
allow peaceful elections.”

However, a chieftain of the PDP who was in the campaign
tour, but preferred anonymity, denied that his party destroyed
APC posters, and accused APC supporters of instigating
trouble.

Abia Police spokesman, ASP Ogbonnaya Nta could not be
reached as the time of filing this report even as reports from
the area have it that normalcy is gradually returning to the
area.