APC Members Attacked At Ibadan LG Secretariat, Alli Blames Political Intolerance

The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has called on the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, to caution his supporters against alleged attacks on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.

The organisation’s warning followed an alleged attack on two APC members, Abiola Abulesowo and Abanise Olanrewaju, at the Ibadan North Local Government 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 some individuals allegedly identified them as APC members and challenged their presence at the facility.

Recounting their experience, Abulesowo alleged that the attackers questioned why they, as APC members, visited a secretariat controlled by the APM-led government.

“They challenged us, asking why we, as APC members, entered the secretariat which is under the leadership of APM. 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 raining on our heads. We tried to protect ourselves, but they were many, so we had to run. Yet they pursued us,” he said.

Abulesowo further alleged that while attempting to escape, they encountered another group of suspected hoodlums at a bus stop, identified as members of the Park Management System (PMS), who allegedly joined in the assault.

He claimed that their clothes were torn and they were subjected to further humiliation simply because of their political affiliation.

The duo said the incident occurred at about 1pm on Wednesday.

Reacting to the development, SSACO, in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, condemned the alleged assault and urged Adekanmbi and Governor Seyi Makinde to caution their supporters against acts of political violence.

The organisation warned against the use of political influence or government protection to intimidate opposition members, stressing that every resident of Oyo State had the right to move freely and participate in political activities without fear of attack.

“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 said.

SSACO urged the governor and the APM governorship candidate to discourage provocation and embrace peaceful political engagement, rather than allowing disagreements to degenerate into physical confrontations.

“Governor Makinde and Adekanmbi should stop this provocation and follow the path of peaceful campaign. We urge them to embrace peace and focus on issues, not attacks,” it added.

The campaign organisation also called on the Oyo State Commissioner of Police to investigate the incident, identify those responsible and ensure that they were brought to justice.

“The 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 concluded.