Confusion erupted on Saturday during the Peoples Democratic Party state congress in Taraba State after members of the congress committee reportedly announced two different individuals as the party’s consensus chairman.
The development sparked outrage among delegates and party faithful, leading to heated arguments and protests at the congress venue.
The drama reportedly began when a member of the congress committee announced Victor Samuel Falack as the consensus chairman of the party in the state.
Delegates present at the venue were said to have applauded the announcement and affirmed Falack’s nomination, believing the process had been successfully concluded.
Observers at the congress noted that the declaration was initially received with excitement, as many delegates appeared satisfied that the party had reached a consensus.
However, the situation reportedly took a dramatic turn moments later when another member of the committee, said to have arrived from Abuja, interrupted the proceedings and announced a different individual as the party’s chairman.
The unexpected reversal created confusion among delegates, many of whom began demanding clarification from the congress committee.
The conflicting declarations quickly triggered heated exchanges among party members and supporters at the venue.
The disagreement soon degenerated into chaos as some aggrieved delegates and party faithful staged a walkout from the congress venue in protest.
Witnesses said the protesters chanted slogans and insisted that the earlier declaration of Falack as the consensus candidate be respected.
Some party members also described the newly announced chairman as “unknown” within the party’s structure in the state, accusing members of the congress committee of attempting to impose a candidate against the wishes of delegates.
Efforts by party officials to calm the situation reportedly failed as tensions continued to rise.
As of the time of filing this report, the final outcome of the congress remained unclear.
Concerned members have since called on the national leadership of the PDP to urgently intervene and clarify the conflicting announcements in order to prevent further crisis within the party in Taraba State.
