By Umar Yusuf

YOLA—The intra-party squabbles within the Adamawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, reared its ugly head yesterday as the declaration of results of the state House of Assembly primaries was conducted amid confusion and tension.

The election was conducted Sunday as against Saturday as the issue of the delegates continued to tear the party apart.

Confusion erupted at the Presidential Lodge area of the Government House when the Chairman of the Electoral Committee sent to Adamawa by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party, Ambassador Tim Ehemadu was to declare the results.

Ihemadu had announced that he had concluded the assignment which brought him to the state, adding that he made available duplicate copies of the result sheets to the party executives but the suspended chairman of the party, Chief Joel Madaki, who was at the venue insisted that the electoral committee must announced the results.

The atmosphere was charged as a result of the disagreement between the Chairman of the electoral Committee and Madaki, following which other party executives joined Madaki in on his insistence that the results must be announced.

But while reacting to Madaki and the party executives’ demands, Iheamadu said the announcement was outside the his committee’s mandate, adding that he was working in consonance with the guidelines for the conduct of the party primaries.

“I have the guideline and I am working in consonance with the guidelines that was given to me to conduct this election.

“I have done my work, and if you believe my work is not properly done, you have the appropriate quarters to channel your complaints to.”

“The electoral guidelines for the purpose of the House of Assembly primaries state clearly that at the various constituencies where these various nominations are conducted, the returning officer in

charge of the Primaries should announce the results publicly before those who attended the election and it is declared there and then,” he said.

But when the pressure became too much on the chairman, he tactically rescinded and gave one of the members of the committee, Mr Sani Aliyu the list which he announced.

Earlier in his preamble, Ihemadu had hinted that he went through tough times in the process of the conduct of the primaries and at a point had to succumb to the wishes of the party executives.

“The atmosphere was so charged, and because we are Nigerians, and we know what is happening, in Adamawa State, I and members of my team decided that it is not going to be proper that we add to the crisis in the state.