Governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State, have raised the alarm over political violence in the state ahead of next month’s primary election in the party.
Speaking on behalf of the aspirants, former finance commissioner in the state, Wale Akinterinwa, said his supporters and those of other governorship aspirants were attacked by thugs allegedly sponsored by people in government.
Segun Ajiboye, a spokesperson to Akinterinwa, issued a statement saying, “The thugs, who brazenly fired gunshots into the air to cause confusion, went on a destruction spree as they attacked property, while billboards of other gubernatorial aspirants were defaced, pull down or out rightly destroyed.
“Party members perceived to be loyal to all gubernatorial aspirants excluding Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa, sustained varied and diverse degrees of injuries resulting from the attacks unleashed on them. T-Shirts and face caps worn by members of the targeted aspirants were torn to shreds.
“The thugs who carried out the orchestrated attacks were armed with all sorts of dangerous weapons, it is sad to note that many of our supporters with deep cuts are in the hospital receiving treatment at the moment.
“It is however surprising that no aspirant other than the governor was spared of the attacks.”
Ajiboye stressed that the press statement was not made out of fear or inability to protect supporters, but to assure them that they have the capacity to give adequate protection to all members who have remained peaceful in the face of the attacks.
He went further to call on President Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, to warn Aiyedatiwa to seize the use of thugs to advance his political interest.
Ajiboye urged all security agencies to be on red alert against future occurrence and also ensure that culprits are brought to book to serve as a lesson to others.
Responding, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, said his principal has directed security agencies to arrest and prosecute those who attacked supporters of the governorship aspirants and pulled down their billboards.
“The attention of the Ondo State Governor has been drawn to reports of alleged attacks on some persons and destruction of campaign materials during president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to the state on Wednesday.
“The governor says his administration will not tolerate any form of violence that is capable of threatening the peace and tranquillity of the state,” the statement read.