No fewer than 32 persons were injured while others escaped death by the whiskers on Saturday during a stakeholders meeting held at Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom to choose a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consensus chairmanship candidate ahead of October council elections in the state.
It was gathered that the political leader of the area Hon Henry Archibong, Ward leaders, party chieftains and other critical stakeholders escaped death as angry youths stormed the meeting venue and engaged the leaders in a free-for-all, forcing the meeting to end in a fiasco, reports Daily Sun.
It was gathered that trouble started when a former lawmaker Hon Kufre Edidem allegedly arrived at the meeting venue at Mbak Atai with angry youths opposed to the consensus deal and started to challenge the elders while his ‘boys’ manhandled others and threw bottles everywhere.
It was also gathered that the stakeholders meeting was at the instance of the political leader Hon Henry Archibong with few invited stakeholders but it turned out to witness many attendees including those who gatecrashed with thugs.
An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity said when Idongesit Ituen walked into the hall with irate youths strategically positioned in the crowd, the atmosphere changed to a war field
He said Ituen had earlier warned the political leader against convening the meeting without his approval.
“The attack started from the PDP state’s officer, Hon. Effiong Ebong who was slapped on the face severally by one of the thugs as he stepped on the podium to set the tone of the meeting.
“From scores of persons were wounded as bottles were thrown indiscriminately from the rear and entire hall.”
He said the council chairman Hon Etetim Onuk pleaded for calm but to no avail as the hired youths were on a rampage beating and maiming while the council chairman was physically assaulted.
“Hell was let loose when the convener, Dr. Archibong announced that the event could not be held under such a rowdy atmosphere, saying that a new date and venue would be communicated to those needed and declared the meeting closed.
“Bottles were thrown from all corners of the hall, those boys had the guts to hit even the council chairman with a plastic chair. All the dignitaries including the immediate past Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Bassey Okon, had to run for their lives.
He explained that amid the confusion, the former House Member, Idongesit Ituen insisted on addressing the people even after the meeting was declared closed by the conveners.
He said Ituen publicly condemned the consensus deal by the elders and argued that it was the prerogative of the governor, Pastor Umo Eno, to pick a chairman of council areas adding that the governor did not authorise any mock election to that effect.
Investigation revealed that 17 candidates from East Itam where the chairmanship position of the council is zoned to, indicated interest to contest for the seat and were presented to the elders.
Some of the aspirants who felt cheated in the planned consensus deal boycotted the meeting.
However, the former lawmaker refused to answer calls from our reporter and did not respond to WhatsApp messages.
