By Muhammad Bello

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Governor of of Kaduna State, Ramalan Yero, and the Acting Governor of Taraba State, Garba Umar, were among dignitaries in the premises of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat when a policeman on duty surreptitiously released a canister of tear-gas on a crowded corridor on the first floor of the building.


Others on the corridor leading to the office of the National Organising Secretary were Senator Abubakar Gada (Sokoto), Chairmen of House of Representatives Committee on Health and Sports, Ndudi Elemelu and Godfrey Gaya.

Also there, was Hon. Ibrahim El- Sudi (PDP, Taraba) and a host of other aspirants from across the country.


They were all at the Wadata Plaza to submit their nomination / expression of interest forms for Governorship seats in their respective states.

Ihedioha, who also managed to get out of the place through a back door ignored the Press and strode to his car.


Pandemonium started when the aspirants and their supporters struggled to egress the office of the National Organising Secretary.

Prior to the commotion, host of party supporters accompanying various aspirants had a field day drumming, dancing and singing outside. The fiesta still continued as those inside jostled to extricate themselves from the acrid smoke.

Many scampered out of the back door, eyes and noses covered with handkerchiefs, just as they battled to clear tears from people's eyes.

Two men fell in the ensuing melee. One of them got the attention of some sympathisers who fanned him in a bid to ensure his resuscitation before both were carried out.

Although incensed by the incident, many of the victims declined to speak to reporters.
But a few observed that the office was not spacious enough to accommodate large crowd as turned out there. Moreso, the labyrinth of corridors were tiny.

In the meantime, members of the Peoples Democratic Party Caucus in the lower house are angling to dissociate themselves from moves being made to reconvene sitting next week.

The House is adjourned till December 3.

A PDP member of the House from Cross River State, who pleaded anonymity told reporters that: "It is possible to resume before the official date, but it will be difficult for the PDP to get two-thirds of members to reconvene before December 3. I doubt strongly that we will be interested in even going there (the House) to resume.

"That is not the priority now. What we are interested in, is how we can return to the House", he said.

According to him, "I personally do not care whether Tambuwal is Speaker or not. What matters to me is how well I represent my people", he stated.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/ihedioha-governors-others-tear-gassed-at-pdp-secretariat/193498/