Disaster was on Sunday averted at a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Awka, Anambra State, following disagreement over the result of the party’s ward congresses held on Saturday, May 4.

Information gathered by News Express has it that the meeting was for the harmonisation of the results collated during the exercise.

But the candidate of the APC in last year’s governorship election in the state, Dr. Tony Nwoye, who claimed the election did not hold, had at the meeting accused Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, of plotting to hijack the party in the state.

He said Ngige was usurping the role of the congress committee by insisting that ward congress took place in the state even when it did not.

His words: “I have been refraining from speaking about Ngige’s audacity and impunity over the affairs of the party in the state to avoid being accused of being bitter because I ran for the governorship election and lost on the platform of the party.

“Some of you here worked against me during that election, but my joy is that I lost the election and you lost too because most of you have not risen beyond the falling point.

“We have failed as a party because we do not have any position in Anambra but it will not work for people to put this party in their pocket so they can write election results in their houses.

"I will not let Ngige take the function of the panel that is supposed to conduct that congress, and they just came here today (Sunday) whereas you are trying to tell us that elections have been held yesterday

“How can Ngige be the one to conduct the congress when there is a committee set out to conduct the election?”

However, the sound of gunshots put the meeting in disarray as angry party members charged at the minister.

Security agents tried to calm the situation by firing repelling shots into the air but that didn't dissuade the shooters as the gunshots persisted.

To this end, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, and the leader of the party in the state was immediately whisked out of the venue by security men.

According to angry party faithful present at the meeting, they alleged that the minister was trying to manipulate the result of the ward congress to his favour.

A member of the state’s ward congress committee, who was identified as Ali was however unfortunate as the angry mob swooped on him and beat him to a pulp before stripping him naked.

They accused him of being among those drafted to the state to work in Ngige’s favour.

Update news