Jonathan for the South East Zonal rally of the (PDP) holding in Enugu

Ahead of today’s visit of President Goodluck Jonathan for the South East Zonal rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holding in Enugu,  armed men have stormed the Enugu residence of the party’s chairman in  Udi Local Government Area, Mr. Uche Ogbodo, removing his private car and a PDP bus in his custody.

The chairman, who spoke with our reporter from his hideout, said he had just returned from court when 12 armed men,  entered his compound in the GRA area of Enugu and tried  to force their way into his house.
Uche, who was inside the house at the time of the invasion, said that when they could not gain entry because of the iron doors, the invaders took the keys of his private car, a KIA-RIO with Reg. No. AGW 35 AAA, drove the car away and used a towing van to tow the PDP bus from his compound.
The chairman who is an ardent supporter of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu,  has been having a running battle with government officials from his area and the Udi Local Government Chairman,. Chinedu Illoeje since he suspended the Enugu SSG and some commissioners from the party.
Uche was consequently removed as party chairman  but his protest letter to the National Executive Council of the PDP was upheld, just as the national headquarters of the party, through a letter to its zonal leadership,  ordered that all suspensions be cancelled and that the status quo should remain.
The party chairman, who said he had reported the matter to the police alleged that two policemen in uniform were among those that invaded his house.
He told reporters that he had gone into hiding, alleging that the failed attack on him was part of efforts to keep him away from today’s zonal rally of his party, “because they know that I am the authentic PDP chairman in Udi Local Government Area even when they have refused to obey the orders of the National executive of the party.”
There has been uneasy calm over the zonal rally in Enugu as the sour relationship between Ekweremadu and Governor Sullivan Chime continue to divide the party in the State.
A group, Save Enugu Group, has also been circulating text messages, alleging attempts by the government to undermine the Deputy Senate President and his supporters during the rally, warning that there could be a bloody clash.
However, the state government has denied any such plan, describing the PDP in Enugu State as one united family.