The Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State have traded accusations over a shooting incident involving the campaign convoy of the PDP governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, in the Ososa area of the state.
While the PDP alleged that its campaign convoy came under attack from gunmen who fired shots and threw stones and other weapons, the APC claimed that the shooting was caused by security personnel attached to Adebutu.
The PDP state chairman, Abayomi Tella, made the allegation on Friday at a press briefing held at the party secretariat in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Tella also accused the APC-led government of using its incumbency to frustrate the opposition party’s activities in the state.
He alleged that the PDP had been denied access to billboard spaces for Adebutu despite notifying the relevant authorities, particularly the Ogun State Signage and Advertising Agency.
“The ruling All Progressives Congress in the state had been using its incumbency to harass, deny and victimise our party and members in recent times,” Tella said.
He further alleged that the PDP was prevented from holding its Ogun East Senatorial District campaign flag-off at Idowa on Wednesday despite obtaining approval and paying N170,000 for the use of the venue.
According to him, the party initially contacted the Dagburewe of Idowa, who directed its officials to the Olotu, whom he said was responsible for the venue.
Tella said the Olotu approved the use of the venue and provided a community account into which the party paid the required N170,000.
He alleged that the party was, however, stopped from using the venue a few hours before the scheduled event, forcing it to relocate the campaign to Odogbolu.
Tella said the alleged attack occurred as the campaign convoy was heading to Odogbolu.
“On our way to Odogbolu, on getting to Ososa, the last batches of vehicles in the train were attacked with gunshots, stones and other weapons. Our people were able to escape,” he said.
The PDP chairman said the incident was reported to the police, including the Idowa and Igbeba Area Commands, but alleged that some PDP members who were victims of the attack were subsequently arrested.
He also claimed that several vehicles in the campaign convoy were vandalised while some party members sustained injuries.
According to him, several gunshots were fired, with some hitting the tyres of vehicles, as members of the convoy fled the scene.
Despite the incident, Tella said the party would not be intimidated or deterred from its campaign activities.
“No amount of attack can destabilise us. We are resolute to liberate the people of Ogun State, and we will do that with the power of the people,” he said.
Reacting, the Ogun State chapter of the APC alleged that the shooting was caused by security personnel attached to Adebutu.
The party said the incident occurred in Ososa, the hometown of its deputy governorship candidate, Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Femi Nuberu, the APC called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to order a thorough investigation into the incident and ensure that anyone found culpable was held accountable.
Nuberu said it was disturbing that security personnel attached to a governorship candidate could allegedly cause panic among residents through what he described as reckless use of firearms.
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The party also urged Adebutu and his campaign team to exercise restraint and ensure that their activities did not cause fear, intimidation or disorder in the state.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the police were unsuccessful as calls to the state police spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, were not connecting, while he had not responded to enquiries sent to his WhatsApp as of the time of filing the report.
