APC suspends guber campaign, insists Fayemi was target of Ekiti shooting

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti says it has suspended its gubernatorial campaign earlier scheduled to kick off on Monday.

The suspension came as the state police command released the report of Friday’s shooting incident at the APC reception organised for Kayode Fayemi, its flagbearer in the July 14 governorship election.

Jide Awe, chairman of the party in the state, told journalists in Ado Ekiti that the postponement was due to the shooting incident.

According to Awe, the suspension will remain in place until the police can guarantee the safety of its gubernatorial candidate and other members of the party.

He insisted that Friday’s shooting was an attempt to take the life of Fayemi with the bullet, however, hitting Opeyemi Bamidele, a former member of the house of representatives.

Awe demanded a thorough investigation of the matter by the police, saying the outcome of the report must be made public.

The police command in its situation report released on Saturday by Caleb Chukwuemeka, its public relations officer, said findings revealed that what happened was a case of accidental discharge on the part of a mobile police officer.

The force said: “On Friday, 1st June, 2018, at about 1700 hours, the policeman accidentally shot Opeyemi Bamidele and one other, but he has been arrested.

“He is attached to 20 PMF, Ikeja, Lagos State, where he was posted on bank guard duties somewhere in Ikeja. The policeman came on illegal duty to Ekiti State.

“A politician, who conspired and removed the said policeman from where he was posted by his Squadron Commander and came to Ado-Ekiti with him for an unofficial reason has also been arrested.

“The victims of his accidental discharge are currently responding to treatment at the hospital, while the injured policeman is equally responding to treatment in protective custody.”