Contenders in the looming gubernatorial elections in Ondo State clashed on Tuesday in the Owo Local Government Area of the state. Allies of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Eyitayo Jegede and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and incumbent governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, reportedly engaged in a free-for-all fight in the run-up to the elections.
Chieftains of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the state disclosed after the clash that the APC sponsored thugs to attack the convoy of their governorship candidate in the upcoming Ondo election, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede. Jegede is expected to be the main challenger to the APC’s Akeredolu Rotimi in the October 10 election.
The clash took place in Ipele and Owo townships located in the Owo local government area of the state.
Spokesman of the police in the state, Tee-Leo Ikoro said that both parties have traded accusation over the attack and that the commissioner of police has ordered an investigation into the matter.
In a statement signed by the spokesman of the Jegede Campaign Committee, Samuel Fasua, the PDP said some of its members have been hospitalized as a result of the clash and called on the international community to wade into the matter and come to the aid of its members.
“A PDP member by name, Hon. Amuda Sikiru was shot in the face and abdomen during our campaign rally in Owo town by the APC thugs,” the statement said. “The victim who is still unconscious, was reportedly rushed to the State Specialist Hospital in Akure in the Ambulance attached to the candidate’s convoy.
Also wounded were Messes Taye Akintufede and Seun Ogunlade, both members of the PDP, who were also rushed to the hospital in the aftermath of the attack.
“This attacks on our members by the ruling party in the state is threatening the peace of the state and was clearly planned to cause chaos ahead of the October 10 governorship election.
“We are calling on the Inspector-General of Police, the human rights community, and other international bodies to come to our rescue in Ondo State.
“We want a free and fair election, but the party in power does not.”
In its reaction to the clash, the campaign organization of the incumbent governor who is also the flagbearer of the APC in the election, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, countered that the supporters of the PDP candidate initiated the attack on the APC members and other residents of the town.
While accusing the PDP of “crying more than the bereaved”, the spokesperson of the Akeredolu/Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organization in the state, Olabode Richard Olatunde, stated that “Eyitayo Jegede SAN, authorized his thugs to release coordinated attacks on the innocent people of Ipele and Ijebu in Owo local government area. Our people were traumatized with the sound of gunshots by Eyitayo Jegede’s thugs in Owo today.
Feeling that the PDP might be in the main town, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, ordered his campaign convoy to take another route out of the town.
“Despite this, Eyitayo Jegede and the PDP still went ahead to cause chaos in Owo by attacking innocent members of the public and anyone with APC or Akeredolu-branded caps or t-Shirts.
“No fewer than 20 cars were destroyed and many innocent people of Ipele and Ijebu Owo injured. Motorcycles were burnt and the streets of Ipele littered with shells of bullets.
“This intimidation to scare the people of Owo from coming out to vote massively for their son will not work. The people are resolved to support Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.