Three people are presumed dead as APC and PDP supporters fight in Lagos.
When supporters of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) engaged in violent conflict during the most recent political campaign in the Surulere area of Lagos State, at least three people reportedly died and others suffered injuries of varying severity.
As a result, both sides have urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the police to launch an expedient inquiry into the altercation with the intention of apprehending and prosecuting those responsible.
The attack took place on Friday while Dr. Olajide Adediran, also known as Jandor, a PDP candidate for governor, was visiting as part of an ongoing tour of 245 wards in Lagos State.
According to the PDP, alleged APC hoodlums intimidated the High Chief Baale of Ojuoluwa in the Empire neighbourhood of the Surulere Local Government Area not to entertain the entourage during the two-day visit to the wards in the neighbourhood.
The PDP’s Hakeem Amode and the APC’s Seye Oladejo both made separate statements on these topics on Friday.
Parts of Oladejo’s statement read as follows: “Our attention has been drawn to the horror unleashed on innocent and law-abiding Lagos State residents by the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate, Jide Adediran, also known as Jandor, during his campaign in Surulere Local Government.
Three people are said to have been killed, and other victims were injured as a result of the tragedy.
“We vehemently condemn the use of unjustified and unprovoked violence against the state’s residents in the name of electioneering.” Jandor’s goons shot weapons at their helpless victims as they fled for their lives in broad daylight.
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“Las Vegas values its unique position as the safest state in the nation, which is the consequence of years of careful security investment.”
We believe that this attack is an attempt to scare away potential voters as the election season draws to a close.
It is pitiful to witness a candidate for governor of the state deliberately encouraging violence to disturb the serenity of the populace.
The PDP and its candidate have been quite active recently, wailing in the media about how their campaign posters were being damaged. He honed his nefarious plans behind my back before they materialised at his rally.
“While we can only speculate on the incalculable suffering and frustration that his failed campaign may have inflicted upon him, it shouldn’t have led to the bloodlust of prospective voters.”
“We now urge law enforcement officials to fully investigate the incident, hold those responsible accountable, and step up security throughout the state in light of the opposition PDP’s blatant desperation to prevent a repeat of it.”
As the state government continues to be unwaveringly committed to its onerous job of guaranteeing the safety of lives and properties for everyone, we implore Lagosians to maintain calm and abide by the law.
The action was “repugnant to expanding democracy in Lagos, a clear proof of APC high-handedness and imperialism rule,” according to Amode’s statement.
In part, the statement read: “In continuation of Jandor’s tour of the 245 wards in Lagos state, the APC-sponsored thugs in Surulere local government of Lagos state unleashed violence on persons and groups of people in the area ahead of the scheduled visitation of the PDP gubernatorial candidate to the ward on Thursday and Friday.
The thugs went to the Baale of Ojuoluwa in the LGA’s Empire neighbourhood to intimidate him into not receiving the entourage that was supposed to pay him a courtesy visit.
“The gates leading to the entire imperial region were sealed, disrupting vehicular traffic.”
“In the same vein, the canopy and chairs set up at Iponri Housing Estate were savagely damaged by APC killer thugs who were armed with lethal weapons, including guns.” Many of our members who were involved in the planning of the event were hurt during the altercation.
When Dr. Adediran travelled to Soloki Street to attend Jumat prayers, the same group of thugs supported by the APC mobilised there and started welding hazardous weapons, wrecking the vehicles in the group, and forcibly stealing one of the campaign vehicles.
“They also damaged the campaign vehicles of Soyinka, one of our candidates for the House of Representatives.”
It’s crucial to note that the APC-backed thugs then proceeded to vandalise the PDP secretariat at No. 2 Shittu Street in Aguda, inflicting various degrees of injury on a number of party members.
“A similar event also happened on Teniola Street, when community members waiting to welcome our gubernatorial candidates’ entourage were scattered and many were injured during the attack.
“Our preliminary inquiry showed that the murdering thugs were supported by the incumbent APC candidate for the House of Representatives post in Surulere Local Government Constituency 2,”
“We are taking this opportunity to once again make a strong request to President Muhammad Buhari, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, to use his good offices to stop the undemocratic practises of the APC in Lagos against opposition parties in order to ensure that the state’s ruling party does not sacrifice Jandor’s desire to leave a legacy of credible elections on the altar of avarice and entitlement.
We also urge the Inspector General of Police to step up to the plate and offer enough security for everyone so they can vote in the upcoming election.
The PDP therefore pleaded with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take precautions to prevent the alleged intimidation and harassment of opposition party members by the ruling party’s “sponsored killer thugs” from undermining their efforts to hold a credible election, particularly in the state.
The leadership of our party and our candidates cannot be intimidated by the killer thugs and agbero sections of the state’s ruling APC, thus we are also making a plea to all party members to maintain their resolve and focus.
It urged all devoted members to view the violence as “a show of a terrible loser party who had nothing to give the people of the state and would do anything to continue squandering our commonwealth in the state,” as it was said in the statement.
