The Kwara State branch of the People’s Democratic Party has commenced its ward congresses across the 193 wards across the state to elect seven party executives in each ward.
The exercise which was peaceful and successful in certain parts outside Ilorin was nearly marred with crisis in the state capital as one member was reported dead as a result of fighting while sharing money.
Holding ward congresses was part of the directive of the national headquarter of the People’s Democratic Party to elect ward executives to man the affairs of the party in Kwara State.
At Ipee community in Oyun Local Government Area of the state, a former PDP gubernatorial candidate, John Dara, was accompanied to the venue of the congress by large crowd where he addressed the people on the need to elect good leaders to oversee the affairs of the party.
At the end of the nearly two hours exercise, seven members of the executive emerged, who promised to abide by the rules of the party.
Mr John Dara, described the exercise as a manifestation of the determination of the party to continue to ensure rule of law. He vowed of the resolve of the party to clinch victory in the next governorship election in the state.
The story was the same in Ilorin, especially at Ajikobi ward in Okekere, where the party members arrived early to partake in the exercise.
Members queued up to be counted when the exercise began and this went on smoothly except for little misunderstanding and fight among some members which was quickly resolved.
However, there was an alleged fighting among members at the party secretariat in Sango area in Ilorin, when party faithful were said to have engaged in fighting over the sharing formula of money released.
The State Commissioner of Police, Ambrose Aisaboh, confirmed the death of one person during the fracas, while two people were wounded with 19 people arrested at the vicinity of the party secretariat with dangerous weapons.
As the general election draws nearer, it is expected that various political parties would enlighten their members on the need to be law abiding and not involve in acts that could breach the law.
