Journalists have been barred from entering the Grand Seasons Hotel in Nnewi, Anambra State, venue of the Labour Party’s National Convention.
DAILY POST reports that there is heavy security presence at the hotel and this is not unconnected with the crisis in the party.
Series of calls and text messages sent to the spokesman of the party, Obiorah Ifoh, urging him to allow journalists with tags access into the venue was rebuffed.
Meanwhile, five persons, who were branded hoodlums, have been arrested at the venue and taken to the police headquarters for questioning.
The hoodlums were said to be distributing inciting leaflets critical of the leadership of the party.
They were accused of trying to cause a crisis at the ongoing convention.
A party source said the intention of the criminal elements and their sponsors was to destabilize the convention.
Recall that the Labour Party has been experiencing crisis following party leadership tussle over who becomes the national chairman of the party, a move many political watchers see as discouraging.