There was pandemonium on Monday at the Yard 158 Event Center, Oregun Road, Ikeja, venue of the governorship primary of the PDP in Lagos State, as supporters of aspirants clashed.

The intervention of policemen, however, helped to restore normalcy.

Musiliu Obanikoro

The police in an attempt to disperse the warring groups, resorted to the use of tear gas and also had to make use of sniffer dogs.

Trouble started at about 2:00p.m when some supporters arrived at the venue chanting solidarity slogans in favour of their preferred aspirant.

Not long after, supporters of another aspirant arrived at the scene and a confrontation ensued, leading to the clash.

In the melee, dangerous weapons were freely used and some people, including journalists covering the event, were injured while two suspected thugs were arrested by security operatives.

About 900 delegates are expected to vote at the primary election.

•Jimi Agbaje

Six aspirants are seeking the party’s ticket for the 2015 governorship election in the state.

The aspirants are Mrs Modupe Chukwuneke, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Mr Tokunboh Kamson, Mr Adedeji Doherty, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro and Mr Olujimi Agbaje.But observers forecast a straight fight between Musiliu Obanikoro, a former minister and Olajimi Agbaje, a new joiner of the party, who had contested Lagos governorship in 2007. Obanikoro was also the PDP’s candidate in 2007, but was trounced by Raji Fashola.

Accreditation of delegates and journalists commenced at about 3:00p.m instead of 8:00a.m, as scheduled by the party.

Speaking separately with newsmen, three aspirants, Obanikoro, Doherty and Agbaje, expressed optimism of emerging victorious.

Obanikoro, who refuted claims of stepping down, urged his supporters to remain calm.

Agbaje, on his part, debunked allegations that he was backed by the party leadership in the state.

He said that there was internal democracy in the party.

The state chairman of the party, Mr Tunji Shelle, re-assured that there was a level playing field for all the aspirants.

By 6.00p.m, voting had not started at the venue