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Party accuses APC of masterminding the attack
Two candidates of the party – Mr Gbenga Adewusi (House of Representatives) Mr Ademola Ige (House of Assembly) were in the area for a rally before hoodlums suddenly swooped on their supporters. The hoodlums were said to have used dangerous weapons which led to the death of one of the party supporters.
In a statement released immediately after the attack by the Director General of the Sen. Rashidi Ladoja Campaign Organization, Hon. Adeolu Adeleke, the Accord Party accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of sponsoring the hoodlums.
The statement read in part: “Worried by the growing popularity and acceptance of Accord in Oyo State, scores of APC thugs this evening swooped on a peaceful rally of our House of Assembly and House of Representatives candidates, Honourables Ige and Gbenga Adewusi at Odinjo-Ode-Ige, Iyana Modina Area of Ibadan South-East Local Government.
“The thugs were carrying guns and other dangerous weapons when they stormed the campaign rally and opened fired on our supporters and killed two of them on the spot. Fifteen people sustained lethal gunshot injuries, while more unknown number of our supporters left with varying degrees of injuries.
“A team from SARS who came to the rescues has arrested three of the APC thugs with pump actions guns, while other members of the gang fled…”
But the APC reacted swiftly, denying the allegation and saying thugs among supporters of Adewusi engaged urchins in supremacy battle which led to a free-for-all.
The Director of Media and Publicity of the APC in Oyo State, Olawale Sadare, in his statement, said: “Neither members nor supporters of our party (APC) were involved in the fracas which was recorded at Odinjo area of Ibadan today. We had it from impeccable sources that some thugs in the campaign team of one Gbenga Adewusi (aka Arole), who is the Accord Party candidate for Ibadan North East/South East Federal Constituency engaged some street urchins in supremacy battle and this resulted in a free-for-all.
“We recall that the same Arole was fingered in an unrest at Aremo/Ode Aje recently shortly after his defection to his new party from the PDP when he led political thugs to attack some residents and members of our party in what a source close him said was to create an awareness of his arrival in Accord Party.
“APC does not harbour political thugs and we don’t sponsor violence in whatever guise. Therefore, we urge law enforcement agencies to carry out necessary investigation and ensure those found culpable are made to face the music.”
Although Adeleke said two Accord supporters were killed, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Kayode Ajisebutu, said only one person was killed. He added that three people have been arrested in connection with the violence.
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