A major conflict was averted on Wednesday at the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as some irate youths believed to be members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) stormed the party secretariat demanding to see APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

The youths, who were, however, barred from gaining entry into the party offices by security operatives, later engaged the security personnel in a fisticuff and angry exchanges as the youths threatened to burn down the party secretariat.

The immediate cause of the conflict was not known but a source alleged that the leadership of the party is sponsoring imposters to the rival of the authentic leadership of NANS and have gone ahead fund the rival candidate in the coming election of association.

Eyewitnesses who watched the midday drama said an officer of the Department of State Services (DSS) guarding the entrance to Adamu’s office had a hectic time trying to restrain the angry youths who were determined to see Adamu.

Amid the confusion, the Chief Security Officer at the APC Secretariat was compelled to spray tear gas on the youths, which further aggravated the volatile situation and pitched the police with some other youths still at the gate.

Shortly afterwards, Adamu stormed out of his office and spoke with the youths.

While opinions were divided as to the reason the youths stormed the secretariat, some security sources in the secretariat, claimed that the youth NANS members were competing for the party chairman’s support ahead of their election.

The source who did not want to be named claimed that they came to seek the support of the National Chairman of APC ahead of their election which was supposed to be held at the Old Parade Ground, Area 10, Abuja, but was postponed to Monday and later postponed to an unknown date.

Senator Adamu was heard telling the youths that he has a candidate he is supporting and that they should support their own candidate, while he supports his. Calm, however, returned as the chairman zoomed off from the APC National Secretariat while the youths numbering over fifteen left in a different vehicle.

Also, as the fight between the youths and the police and DSS officers numbering over fifteen lasted, more officers were immediately deployed to the secretariat to reinforce the ones already on ground.

Though no life was lost even amidst the charged atmosphere, about three persons sustained serious injuries, while others had their clothes torn in the middle of the fracas.

However, Adamu was heard telling the youths that he has his own candidate and that they should support their own candidate, while he supports his own candidate to win before he swiftly drove off from the APC National Secretariat. (Daily Independent)

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