Soji Ajibola, Ibadan
Members of the All Progressive Congress and the Social Democratic Party had a violent clash at Itaji-Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area.
At the end of the fierce face off, one person died while several others were injured the clash.
Both parties are claiming to be the victim in the statements issued after the clash.
The Biodun Oyebanji Campaign Organisation in a statement condemned the violent attack on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Itaji-Ekiti on Saturday, which resulted in the killing of one APC member, Tope Ajayi, and many others sustaining severe injuries.
Several members of APC are presently hospitalized while medical personnel are battling to save their lives following life-threatening injuries they sustained in the attack allegedly carried out by Social Democratic Party (SDP) thugs led by a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bimbo Daramola.
One of the victims, Joshua John, who is presently at a critical condition at the State University Teaching Hospital, alleged that he was tortured and shot in the leg in the presence of top chieftains of the SDP.
The Oyebanji Campaign Organisation warned Oni and his supporters against further attacks on APC members saying the warning to SDP and its candidate became imperative against the background of similar murderous conduct in the past when Oni deployed thugs to attack opposition members in his desperate bid to win the governorship rerun poll in 2009.
“The APC campaign procession in Ekiti North senatorial district was going on peacefully until it was disrupted by SDP thugs under the command of Daramola at Itaji-Ekiti.
“The attack was carried out by violent thugs who arrived in a Toyota Hilux and Tacoma vehicle.
“The SDP thugs shot at many vehicles in the procession including the one belonging to the Special Adviser on Roads, Hon. Sunday Adunmo also known as Galaxy, in what was apparently an “unprovoked attack.”
Olatunbosun commiserated with the family of the deceased, and called on the security agencies in the state to investigate the incident thoroughly and ensure the perpetrators are brought to book, while calling on all APC members and the general public to go about their normal activities without fear.
“The death in Itaji-Ekiti is an addition to the statistics of politically-motivated fatalities allegedly traced to Oni in his desperation for power.”
The Oyebanji Campaign said it was in possession of intelligence that hundreds of thugs and youths had been armed with guns and other dangerous weapons across the state to cause mayhem accusing Oni of desperation to cause violence on election day to scare voters in areas where he is not popular.
But the SDP countered in a statement that thugs of the APC were sent by the the Ekiti State Chairman of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Rotimi Olanbiwoninu, a-k-a Mentilo, to disrupt its campaign in Itaji.
The spokesperson of the Segun Oni campaign organization, Mr Jackson Adebayo, alleged that three persons were shot during the attack.
He said that one of the thugs now in custody told the police that they were sent by Mentilo who works for Biodun Oyebamiji Campaign Organisation.
“The unlucky thug confessed that they were sent by Mentilo and that he (Mentilo) was working for the Biodun Oyebamiji Campaign Organisation,
“The RTEAN drivers allegedly shot three members of the SDP who were waiting for the arrival of Oni who was due to address party supporters in the town.”
According to him, the injured SDP members were rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention while the matter was reported to the police.
