Ekiti: 1 killed, others injured as APC’s ‘sweeping of legs’ goes awry

 

THERE was pandemonium in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Sunday morning, as one man was killed and several others received various degrees of injuries in a clash that followed attempts by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State to “exorcise the spirit of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)” from the state, after its mega rally of Saturday.

It was gathered that APC members in the state had commenced the symbolic sweeping exercise at Okeyinmi area of Ado Ekiti and went with the exercise down to Matthew Roundabout, where they were said to have clashed with supporters of PDP in the area.

Sources alleged that APC members had initially resisted the attempts by security operatives to end their exercise and, in the ensuing melee, were dispersed with tear gas canisters.

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It was also claimed that the angered APC allegedly descended on people identified to be PDP members, a situation which the police tried to quell by firing several tear gas canisters.

The clash later snowballed into a full scale violence, as some people suspected to be supporters of PDP allegedly joined in the onslaught when they heard that persons identified to be supporters of Mr Ayo Fayose, especially commercial motorcyclists who had stickers of the PDP candidate on their motorcycles, were being attacked by APC members.

By the time anti-riot policemen arrived the area, no fewer than four vehicles on both sides had been damaged, while about six motorcycles were burnt.

However, another account claimed that APC members were stopped by the police at the Ijigbo Roundabout and alleged that they were shot at to disperse them as they refused to stop when they were told to.

The incident led to the death of a man still unidentified as of press time; injury to many others and the destruction of a number of vehicles.

Also, the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, reportedly had altercation with the Commander of the MOPOL Unit in the state, just as his convoy was reportedly tear gassed.

It was also gathered that a former deputy governor of the state, Dr Sikiru Tae-Lawal, also a leader of PDP in the state, had his vehicle damaged by some political thugs as he was allegedly identified at the Ijigbo Junction.

The acting state chairman of APC, Chief Jide Awe, while addressing newsmen on the incident, said he was on a mobilisation effort with Senator Femi Ojudu, Mr Oyetunde Ojo and other leaders of the party when the Mobile Police commander in the state and his team accosted them.

The state PDP chairman, Mr Makanjuola Ogundipe, however, accused Governor Fayemi of causing chaos in the state. 

Ogundipe said: “Fayemi led some thugs to Ijigbo Junction in his official capacity as the governor of the state. If Fayemi is afraid of his impending loss in the election, he should not be shy or ashamed to voluntarily resign from office.”

The police said eight persons had been arrested in connection with the incident and denied the alleged attack on Governor Fayemi’s convoy. 

The state Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Victor Babayemi, in a statement signed by him, said “eight persons were arrested in connection with the incident,” while denying the alleged attack on Fayemi.