AGGRIEVED youths and stakeholders of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday locked down the party’s national secretariat.
They were protesting the decision to adopt direct primary in Abuja.
The protesters, who barricaded the secretariat and destroyed a billboard as well as part of the security wire on its perimeter fence, also chased away security operatives.
They stormed the secretariat very early in the morning bearing placards with various inscriptions, some of which read: “Oshiomhole stay clear of FCT primary”, “We want indirect primary”, Oshiomhole, leadership is not activism”, “Oshiomhole destroying APC”, among others.
The protest was initially peaceful, but soon went out of control as the crowd made up mainly of youths tried to take control of the secretariat gate, which they locked and barricaded.
The main street leading to the APC national secretariat was also barricaded, thereby disrupting vehicular activities.
They tore down the billboard erected in front of the secretariat by an APC member from Kaduna State with the picture of the party’s national chairman and President Muhammadu Buhari.
Realising that they had destroyed the President’s photo, they tried to stitch the banner on the billboard, but failed.
The group’s spokesman, Usman Mohammed Karshi, said they were out to protest what he described as injustice and imposition of mode of election in the FCT.
Karshi added that the FCT is exercising its right of choice in choosing indirect mode as approved by the APC NEC.
However, no official of the party was on hand to speak on behalf of the APC.
The personal intervention of FCT Police Commissioner Bala Ciroma calmed the protesters before they started dispersing after initial police reinforcement failed to curtail the situation.
The police boss displayed professionalism in handling the protesters, telling their leaders to avoid confrontation with the operatives.
He told them that while the police would not want to use force on them, he also expect their leaders to know the limit of their action and beat a retreat.
About nine aspirants, including Ireti Kingibe, Senator Isa Maina, Zakari Angulu, Usman Jibrin Wowo, Zephaniah Jisalo, Musa Tanko Abari, Aboki Zhawa and Daniel Hassan Bwala are contesting the FCT senatorial primary.