The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has alleged that hoodlums, suspected to be members of APM, attacked its supporters in Ibadan.
Alli alleges APM hoodlums attack on APC members
This was as the APC governorship candidate cautioned his APM counterpart, Hon Bimbo Adekanmbi, to keep a rein on his party’s members and supporters.
The warning was contained in a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO).
The campaign organisation alleged that there was an attack on two APC members, Abiola Abulesowo and Abanise Olanrewaju, at the Ibadan North Local Government Area Secretariat, on Wednesday.
The victims were reportedly at the secretariat to accompany a newly-registered voter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office when they were allegedly confronted by some individuals identified as APM supporters.
Narrating their experience, Abulesowo alleged that the attackers challenged their presence at the secretariat because of their membership of the APC.
According to him, the confrontation escalated into physical violence after the duo insisted that the local government secretariat was a public facility accessible to all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliations.
“They challenged us, asking why we, as APC members, entered the secretariat which is under the leadership of APM. And we answered that the secretariat belongs to all Nigerians, not just APM members.
“They insisted that we were too daring to have been bold enough to enter the secretariat, knowing fully that APM is the ruling party in Oyo State.
“While trying to explain to them that the issue was not a political one, slaps and punches started reigning on our heads,” he said.
Abulesowo further alleged that the attackers pursued them as they attempted to escape, adding that they were subsequently accosted by another group of individuals at a bus stop identified as PMS, who allegedly continued the assault.
He claimed that their clothes were torn during the incident, which reportedly occurred at about 1pm on Wednesday.
Reacting SSACO Director of Media and Publicity, Oladele, condemned the alleged violence and called on Hon Adekanmbi and Governor ‘Seyi Makinde to caution their supporters against attacking opposition members.
The organisation warned against the use of government influence or political authority to intimidate members of opposition parties and other residents of the state.
SSACO described the incident as part of what it called a growing pattern of intimidation against opposition members under the Makinde administration.
“This condemnable act is another incident in an ugly trend of muscling the opposition in Oyo State under Governor ‘Seyi Makinde’s leadership.
“We understand that the loss of popularity is eating up Governor Makinde and Hon. Adekanmbi. Yet there is absolutely no reason to visit violence on opposition members in our state,” the statement read.
The campaign organisation urged the governor and the APM governorship candidate to discourage political provocation and embrace issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
It also called on the state Commissioner of Police to investigate the incident, identify those responsible and ensure that they were prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“SSACO calls on the Commissioner of Police to fish out these hoodlums and make them face the law. Oyo State belongs to us all, and no one should use government power to prevent opposition members from living a peaceful life,” the statement further read.
The organisation maintained that political differences should not be a justification for violence, urging political actors across the state to respect the rights of residents and opposition supporters.
