Policemen and other security agents had a hectic time at the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja on Thursday when a presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar, submitted his presidential nomination and expression of interest forms to the party’s leadership.
The forms are to enable him to take part in the party’s presidential primary slated for October 6 in Abuja.
The large turnout of his supporters led to commotion among them, as some of them engaged in a free for all.
The commotion that followed made the policemen to shoot repeatedly into the air to disperse the unruly crowd.
Signs that the national headquarters of the party would witness a large turnout of Atiku’s supporters started emanating as early as 8.55am, when his supporters were seen with different banners and drums.
Singing and dancing, the supporters also carried different banners, posters with Atiku’s pictures.
The former Vice-President later arrived in company with his branded campaign cars at the party’s secretariat some minutes after noon.
Suddenly, some of the supporters were sighted running around the secretariat chasing a few others with cudgels, a development that led to a stampede at the secretariat gate.
Investigations by our correspondent showed that the fight started when some political thugs believed to have come around with flags and tags of a rival political party were noticed around the PDP secretariat.
Attempts by some supporters of Atiku to engage them (those with the rival political party flag) led to violent reaction and resistance.
This led to a serious fight in which dangerous weapons were freely used.
The fight, which spread to adjourning streets in the area, led to the beating of a man believed to be a fan of Atiku.
The early intervention of policemen, who fired several gunshots into the air to disperse the unruly crowd, saved the situation from degenerating.
An eyewitness, who is also a supporter of the Presidential aspirant, spoke with journalists on how the incident started.
He said, “The fight started when some thugs with the APC posters attacked us along the Michael Okpara Street opposite the party secretariat.
“The APC supporters started singing songs against the supporters of the former Vice-President. The supporters of Atiku retaliated, before fight broke out.
“We, the supporters of Atiku, said that the thugs came to disrupt the event.
“We believe that the thugs were sent to disrupt the event and cause crisis to put Atiku in a bad light.”
Attempts by policemen to restore order worsened the already tense situation.
Worried at the degenerating situation, the policemen fired gunshots into the air, an action that further caused further stampede among the supporters.