Funds earmarked for President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign coordinators across Ogun State, on Wednesday, led to fracas after party officials failed to deliver the funds to the beneficiaries.
The money was to be shared at a meeting of 708 coordinators drawn from 236 wards of the state, which took place at a hotel located along Quarry Road of Abeokuta.
But the meeting, which lasted for five hours, ended in controversy after it became clear the funds were not available.
Trouble began after two leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Fatai Adeyanju (National Auditor) and Pegba Otemolu (South West Secretary) told the participants that the money was yet to be deposited into a designated bank account.
The news angered the coordinators, particularly, amid claims that ₦1million hotel bill had been allegedly issued for food and drinks which were not served.
The aggrieved coordinators consequently held the two party leaders hostage and insisted that they will not allow them go until the funds were released.
At this stage, some political thugs escorted Mr. Otemolu out of the hall, who then quickly entered his waiting Honda pilot jeep for a quick escape.
However, in his bid to leave the area, Mr. Otemolu’s driver lost control and rammed into another vehicle and a passer-by.
The development sparked off multiple reactions as the angry group bundled Mr. Otemolu out of his car while his colleague, Mr. Adeyanju, took to his heels.
The commotion also led to attacks on two journalists, Daud Olatunji of Vanguard, and Razaq Ayinla of Business Day, whose work tools were seized by the political hoodlums.
It was not clear immediately how the fracas was resolved.
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