Ballot boxes destroyed as PDP north-west congress ends in chaos

There was confusion at the north-west zonal congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Saturday, as ballot boxes were destroyed, bringing the voting process to an abrupt halt.

The congress, which held at the International Trade Fair Complex in Kaduna, was underway when crisis broke out, with some persons destroying items at the venue, while members scampered for safety.

While the confusion was said to be linked to two candidates from different factions of the PDP in Kano, there has been no official statement from the PDP on what led to the fracas.

However, some members claim confusion started over the decision on some zonal positions of the PDP in the north-west.

The north-west congress covers Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.

During the congress earlier on Saturday, some leaders of the party in the zone had addressed the delegates, after which the voting process commenced.

Delegates of some states were said to have cast their votes, before the voting process was disrupted.

As of the time of this report, calm has restored to the area.

Meanwhile, at the PDP north-central congress in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, the process went on peacefully.

After the election, Theophilus Shan was returned unopposed as north-central zonal chairman of the PDP.