PORT-HARCOURT, AUGUST 17, 2016 – Armed mobile policemen have taken over Sharks Stadium, venue of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention, in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
From as early as 8am, TheCable sighted security men all over Moscow Road, where the stadium is located.
Vehicles were not allowed to enter the street, while pedestrians were being questioned.
No one was allowed to enter the stadium, which is right beside the headquarters of the Rivers state police command.
The policemen declined comments, and no official statement has been issued regarding the development, but it is believed to be as a result of the court order stopping the convention.
On Tuesday, Okon Abang, a justice of the federal high court, Abuja, granted the prayers of Ali Modu Sheriff, factional leader of the party, who sought to stop the exercise.
Abang ordered the suspension of the exercise, and directed the inspector-general of police to enforce the order.
Abang’s judgement is at variance with Ibrahim Watila, judge of the federal high court in Port Harcourt, who held that the Ahmed Makarfi faction could go ahead with its convention as planned.
Dayo Adeyeye, spokesman of the Makarfi’s faction, had told TheCable that the convention would hold unfailingly.
“We have said this earlier…The convention will go on unfailingly,” he had said.
Adeyeye could not be reached as at the time this report was filed.
It is not clear if another venue would be fixed for the exercise, or the party would reschedule the exercise.
Sheriff is demanding that the exercise be taken to Abuja.
