PDP convention: Five hospitalised due to rush to enter venue

Five persons have been rushed to Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium clinic due to rush for entry into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention venue, the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
The health cases arose from the rush at the entry/exit point of the convention arena.
The security personnel had a Herculean task preventing hoodlums from taking advantage of the over crowdedness at the venue, to enter into the arena.
The hoodlums unwittingly made things difficult for the genuine delegates to gain entry into the venue and this led to rush every now and then.

Reacting, Dr Malcolm Brisibe, SA to Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State on Public Health and State Emergency, who is at the venue with his medical team, said that out of the cases, some were treated at the clinic and discharged.
Brisibe said that the serious ones with complications were referred to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for further medical attention.
Brisibe, who declined mentioning how many patients were referred to UPTH, said that his primary function was to take care of Bayelsa delegates.
”I came here (convention) to take care of the Bayelsa delegates but when the health challenges escalates, I opted to assist in the medical sub-committee’s work at the convention.
”Definitely in a gathering like this, there is bound to be casualties because of the presence of people with different health challenges
 ”But our primary function is to take care of the any health issue of delegates from Bayelsa,” he said.
Many ambulances were positioned at strategic points at the venue of the convention in case of emergency.
Meanwhile, Felix Apwale, a Person With Disability (PWD) and an Adamawa State delegate, has commended the PDP for giving the PWDs an opportunity to participate in the convention.
Apwale, who is on wheelchair, said on Sunday in Port Harcourt that two of his colleagues on wheelchair were also present at the convention.

According to him, ”my joy is that for the first time, the PWDs are given an opportunity to exercise their franchise at a party convention”.
”To the best of my knowledge, this has never happened in Nigeria before; today, people with disabilities are free to cast their vote fo whoever they want to be the their party’s presidential candidate.
”If the electoral processes in Nigeria will continue like this, there will be progress,” he said.
Apwale said that the convention was well-organised, expressing belief that with the way it is being organised, the convention would be fair, transparent and credible.
He,however, expressed optimism that Atiku Abubakar would win the primaries, adding, ”he has good intentions and good ambition.”
He said that his colleagues from Jigawa  is already an honourable while the other is from Lagos.
Efforts to interview the other two on wheelchair were unfruitful as the voting started at 2:45 a.m, making them to rush to their respective pavilions to vote.