Party holds congresses amid crisis
■Arsonists set secretariat ablaze
The crisis rocking the Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic (PDP) has taken a dan­gerous dimension, as some suspected arsonists yester­day, attempted to burn down the state secretariat , located at No, 23, Aba Road, Port Harcourt.
The incident occurred less than 24 hours after over 15 governorship aspirants , opposed to Ikwerre governor in 2015, organised what they called, “Power must change in Rivers rally” at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt.
However, the attempt by yet-to-be- identified arsonists was foiled by some security men attached to the PDP headquarters.
Saturday Sun gathered that the suspected arsonists stormed the secretariat at 5am, carrying a four-litre jerry can containing fuel, which they wanted to use to execute their operation. But two mobile policemen, who were inside the main hall on the ground floor of the building, were said to have been awakened by the fire, which had already started burning from the main entrance.
The suspects quickly escaped, while the security men raised the alarm, which attracted neighbours and passers-by who helped in putting off the fire. One of the security men, who claimed to be outside the building when the suspected arsonists arrived the area, said he tried to prevent them, but they still succeeded pouring fuel through the burglar -proof at the entrance before setting it on fire.
According to him, it was the assistance of some passers-by that helped to contain the fire.
Reacting to the incident, the State Chairman of the party, Chief Felix Obuah, said it was the handiwork of those he described as, desperate governorship aspirants, dissidents, expelled and suspended members of the party. Obuah said the party was concerned that the incident occurred, less than 24 hours, after the rally by the “dissident group.”
He said: “The Party expresses serious concern and suspicion on the manner and timing of the event which occurred just less than 24 hours after a group of dissidents comprising a handful of expelled and suspended members of the Party and mixed with agents and members of the All Progressives Congress, who sparsely congregated at the liberation stadium, Elekahia, during which they threatened violence on the PDP and its leaders, as some of them called for the postponement of the ward congresses of the party billed for tomorrow Saturday.”
Chief Obuah also accused the All Progressives Congress(APC) of masterminding the foiled arson.

RIVERS PDP ON FIRE