The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday held its ward congress in different Nigerian states, with wards executives emerging in what has been described as a free and fair contest.

The election was witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to some PDP stalwarts, the peaceful conduct of the exercise across the states was a signal that the party was rebranding itself, with a conscious effort to avoid the mistakes of the past.

They said the opposition party that held Nigeria’s presidency for 16 years was working harmoniously within to ensure that all the members were carried along.

The electoral officers at Ibere Ward Two and Oboro Ward one in Ikwuano Local Government Area in Abia State concluded the exercise by announcing the names of the wards executive and their emergence were unanimously agreed to by the people.

In Rivers State the ward congress was held at the over 300 wards in the state.

Members were seen in some wards in the Port Harcourt City Council queuing up and participating in the exercise.

The returning officer of the local government area, Samuel Nwanosike, told Channels Television that the exercise was peaceful and successful.

However, in Osogbo, Osun State, crisis broke out at the PDP’s secretariat, as supporters of one of the aspirants vying for the position of the state chairman stormed the office calling for “no congress”.

In spite of the heavy presence of security operatives, the supporters in large ‎number chanted songs of solidarity, insisting that the congress must not hold in all the wards.

Addressing the party faithful, one of the aspirants, Dr Bayo faforiji, alleged that the State Party Chairman was hoarding the forms required to conduct the ward congress on grounds that his faction had not met the pre-requisites put in place by the national body.

He said over 7,000 of his supporters would be denied the rights to exercise their civic duties, as such the congress should be seen as null and void.

In his reaction, the other aspirant, Mr Soji Adagunodo, told reporters that ‎the congress would hold, alleging that the Faforiji faction did not meet the conditions required to be eligible for the ward congress.

Also commenting on the issue, the Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mr Bola Ajao, stated that the Faforiji faction was yet to ‎meet the party’s prerequisite.