Gunshots were reportedly fired on Saturday as violence marred the Congress of the All Progressives Congress in the Owan East Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that members of the APC in the area had disagreed over the consensus arrangement proposed by the state leadership of the party.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Jimoh Ijegbai, and some other members were said to have scampered to safety as suspected thugs invaded the venue of exercise in Afuze.

It was learnt that an altercation had ensued among some party supporter while party leaders in the area were meeting to arrive at a harmonised list of local government executives.

It was also learnt that some party members, who had gathered at the secretariat awaiting the outcome of the meeting were chased away while a 75-year old man, identified as one Mr. Osain Isaiah, was locked inside a room.

The Commissioner for Police, Mr Johnson Kokumo, could not be reached for comments as calls to his mobile line did not go through.

But the lawmaker representing Owan Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Pally Iriase, blamed the crisis on some persons whom he said wanted to ignore the directive of the National Executive Council of the APC that all zoning arrangements should be maintained.

Iriase also noted that the local government area had yet to produce its new executives as the meeting ended in a stalemate.

According to him, “The sticky point is that a group is saying we must jettison the directives of NEC. I cannot see any reason why anybody should say we should re-zoned the position.

“The larger group of opinion here is that we cannot continue on the path of impunity. Retaining zoning formula worked out in the ward congresses.”

In a related development, it was learnt that two factions of the APC in the Owan West Local Government Area held separate congresses.

It was gathered that a faction said to be led by one Ojo Asein rejected the harmonised list presented by another group loyal to a former Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere.

(PUNCHNG)