By CHARLES IWUOHA

The police have sealed off Ebonyi PDP Secretariat along Enugu – Abakaliki Highway following a leadership clash between Fred Udeogu-led PDP Caretaker Committee and the dissolved Onyekachi Nwebonyi-led executive.

The National Executive of PDP had in November last year, after Governor David Umahi’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), dissolved the State Working Committee of the party led by Barr. Nwebonyi.

The national executive of the party had set up a Caretaker Committee led by Elder Udeogu to oversee the affairs of the party in the state.

Nwebonyi and some members of the dissolved SWC challenged their dissolution at the State High Court in Abakaliki.

The matter had suffered several adjournments even as three judges have recused themselves from the matter.

Elder Udogu last two weeks instituted another case at an Abuja High Court on the same matter and secured an injunction barring members of the Nwebonyi committee from parading themselves as the authentic leadership of the party in the state.

Backed by the injunction, Udeogu’s youthful supporters yesterday moved to take over the secretariat but security agents arrived and dispersed them after firing shots in the air,

arresting some of their members, including the Youth Leader, Barr Obinna Iteshi.

Reacting to the development, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Barr. Silas Joseph Onu, said it is worrisome that the life of Ebonyi people is no longer valuable to those mandated to protect them.

When contacted on phone, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Aliyu Garba, confirmed the sealing of the PDP Secretariat.