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President Muhammadu Buhari and other All Progressives Congress leaders were on Monday pelted at the presidential campaign rally in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The fracas was occasioned by the presence of members and supporters of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) at the APC rally. While other party dignitaries gave their speeches, they were interrupted by shouts of “Ole”, “no” and defeaning boos, as it became clear that there was a clash of interests at the rally.
In his speech, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who, even as an APC member, is sponsoring Adekunle Akinlade, the governorship candidate of the APM, told the crowd to vote for the APC on Saturday but for another candidate on March 2, saying that the rally was just for Buhari alone.
Former governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, however came up and said the people must vote for APC in all the elections. The development drew more boos and jeers, while a fight broke out between APC supporters and APM supporters in the crowd.
More trouble started when Buhari came up to speak. He initially advised the crowd to vote for him during the presidential election and vote for any candidate of their choice at the March 2 governorship election.
He however drew the ire of APM supporters at the rally when he raised the hand of Dapo Abiodun as the APC candidate for the governorship election.
The angry supporters threw objects at them on the stage. The president was quickly shielded by his bodyguards and men of the SSS.
The event’s MC, Abike Dabiri-Erewa quickly called for the national anthem to be played signalling an abrupt and unceremonious ending.
The canidate of the APM, Akinlade was present at the rally.
Newspeakonline also gathered that suspected hoodlums went round the stadium and attacked Abiodun’s supporters with dangerous weapons.
Many of those attacked sustained injuries. Other supporters of Abiodun quickly removed the branded cloths and caps bearing Dapo Abiodun’s insignia.
BREAKING NEWS: @MBuhari stoned in Ogun State as he presents 'rejected' governorship candidate
— C (@TrueNaijaGuy) February 11, 2019
But for the DSS that had to quickly shield the president, it would have been worse
Watch and see for yourself …. pic.twitter.com/cFYCbbe0mR