*damage over 40 vehicles
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Gunmen on Saturday stormed the venue of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders parallel congress holding at the Jogor Events Centre in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The gunmen numbering over 100 stormed the Liberty Stadium area venue of the parallel congress with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons unleashing terror on the passers by as well as damaged over 40 vehicles that conveyed delegates to the parallel congress.
No fewer than five people were injured during the mayhem while one of the delegates to the congress was matcheted on the head by the gunmen that rented the air around the Jogor centre venue of the parallel congress forcing delegates and other PDP members at the venue to flee for safety.
New Nigerian learnt that the gunmen early in the day attacked the venue during which they were said to be firing several gun shots into the venue only to return in full force midway to the congress and damaged cars and buses parked outside the centre including a car belonging to Murhi International Television (MiTV) used to convey reporters to the scene
The gunmen were seen brandishing cutlass, axes, guns and other dangerous weapons threatening those behind the parallel congress to vacate the venue.
Operatives of of the Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police however subdued the gunmen as they engaged them in shooting forcing the gunmen to desert the area .
Despite the gun battle , the PDP stakeholders Congress continued unabated with the election of Honourable Michael Okunlade as the new PDP Chairman in Oyo State.
Other state officers elected unopposed at the congress were Hon Matthew Abioye as the (Deputy Chairman), Mr Abiodun Oyesola became the (State Secretary), Pa Olawuwo ( Vice Chairman Oyo South), Akeem Ariola (Financial Secretary), Mogaji Bola Akinyemi (Publicity Secretary) and Asiwaju Adekola Adeoye re-elected (Youth leader) of the party.
Speaking after his election, the new PDP Chairman, Honourable Okunlade promised to bring together all the warring PDP factions in Oyo State and work towards the development of the party.
The new PDP Chairman then urged all the party faithful to support the new executive so as to take over the state’s administration comes 2023
The Congress was attended Oyo PDP stakeholders including Honourable Mulikat Adeola Akande former House of Representative Leader, Hon Ajibola Muraina, Alhaji Nureni Akanbi, Alhaji Adebisi Olopoeyan, Alhaji Azeem Gbolarumi, Mr Femi Babalola, Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe, Alhaji Gani Dosu, Engineer Kayode Popoola, Hon Demola Omotosho, Princess Aderonke Adedoja and Dr Aborode.
