Shooting At Ogun PDP Guber Primary, Jimi Lawal, Supporters On Their Heels

Sporadic gunshots rang out at intervals at the governorship primary of the Ogun State chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday evening even as fierce controversy also erupted over conflicting delegates lists, causing the accreditation exercise to be momentarily put on hold.

The controversy which created panic and commotion within Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), the venue of the primary, also forced officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to excuse themselves out of the venue for a while over security concern.

Trouble started when the certified true copy of the National delegates list stamped and signed by the INEC Headquarters, Abuja and which was a product of the April 30 state delegates election was presented by the camp of aspirant Jimi Lawal for the purpose of accreditation, but PDP members loyal to Ladi Adebutu also presented another list.

In the ensuing commotion over which of the delegates'list was authentic, discrepancies were noticed on the two lists across 11 Local Government Areas(LGAs) while they tallied in Nine LGAs.

As the disagreement over which one to be adopted for the primary lingered, supporters of Jimi Lawal called for an impartial arbiter - INEC,  to verify the authentic list since it has in its possession, a certified copy of the delegates list, a move that infuriated the supporters of Adebutu, causing one of them to shred the list from Lawal's camp.

For nearly 40 minutes, gun shots boomed  sporadically, forcing some of the delegates as well as party supporters to disperse in different directions only to regroup again. 

The gunshots were fired by security operatives drafted to maintain peace at the venue, when the agitating crowd of aspirants' supporters became uncontrollable from the two opposing camps.

While the atmosphere of apprehension and gunshots lasted, the development created skewed opportunity for delegates, believed to be loyal to Hon. Ladi Adebutu to gain access into the venue for accreditation which took place inside the auditorium of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.

Jimi Lawal was helped out of the chaotic situation to a safe haven by security agencies while some of his supporters also fled the venue for their safety.

INEC however, returned to the venue, after the state chairman of the party, Hon. Sikirulahi Ogundele had conveyed the police's assurance of safety for all at the venue.

— Daily Crucible