‘Five injured’ as Akeredolu, Jegede supporters clash in Ondo

At least five people were injured in a clash between supporters of Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo, and Eyitayo Jegede, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday.

Supporters of Akeredolu, who is seeking reelection, and Jegede reportedly engaged in a shootout at Oba-Akoko in Akoko south-west local government area of Ondo, causing apprehension in the town.

The injured supporters sustained varying degrees of injuries while vehicles were vandalised during the confrontation.

Samuel Fasua, head, media research, Jegede campaign organisation, alleged that the PDP candidate was held hostage inside the palace of the monarch of the community by APC supporters.

“No fewer than five persons sustained varying degrees of injuries today, Wednesday, September 16, 2020, when, quite unexpectedly, the convoy of Ondo state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu stormed Oba-Akoko in Akoko south-west and started attacking the campaign team of Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, the PDP governorship flagbearer,” he said.

“As at now, no fewer than three vehicles in the convoy of Jegede have been badly damaged, while Jegede himself is being held hostage inside the palace of the monarch of Oba-the Oloba by gun-totting hoodlums suspected to be agents of the governor.

“Curiously, Akeredolu was sighted inside the convoy while the attacks lasted while police operatives in the location simply vacillated and looked on in the face of the orgies of madness.

“In the last five days too, there have been series of attacks on PDP supporters in Aiyede-Ogbese community in Akure north LGA, leading to machete and gun attacks and the burning of at least two houses of PDP members.”

But the APC, in a statement by Olabode Olatunde, spokesperson of the Akeredolu campaign committee, alleged that Akeredolu was on his campaign train to Ikare-Akoko when the PDP members attacked his convoy.

“Hoodlums loyal to the PDP governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, on Wednesday, attacked the convoy of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, at Oba Akoko in Akoko southwest local government area of the state,” Olatunde said.

“Governor Akeredolu and the APC campaign train were on the way to Ikare-Akoko in continuation of the local government campaign rally when the PDP struck and attacked the convoy of the campaign train.

“The branded campaign vehicle donated to Akeredolu campaign by Ambassador Sola Iji has been set ablaze by PDP hoodlums. The driver of the vehicle sustained bodily injury and is now receiving treatment at a government hospital.”

Earlier, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had threatened to halt the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo amid the violence in the two states.

Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of the police (IGP), had also ordered a clampdown on those carrying arms illegally across the country.