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 following an alleged attack on two members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ibadan.
The call followed an incident at the Ibadan North Local Government Secretariat on Wednesday, where two APC members, Abiola Abulesowo and Abanise Olanrewaju, were allegedly assaulted by some persons said to be APM supporters.
The victims were reportedly at the secretariat with a newly registered voter who was to visit the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office when they were confronted over their political affiliation.
Recounting their experience, Abulesowo said the confrontation began when the assailants questioned why they, as APC members, had entered a secretariat allegedly under APM control.
He said they responded that the secretariat was a public institution belonging to all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliation, but their explanation reportedly provoked further confrontation.
According to him, the situation quickly degenerated into violence, with the assailants allegedly raining slaps and punches on them.
“We tried to protect ourselves, but they were many. We had to run. Yet they pursued us. While we thought we were already escaping, we landed in the hands of PMS thugs at Bus Stop who took over the beating.
“They tore our dress and thoroughly embarrassed us, just because we are APC members,” he said.
The victims said the incident occurred at about 1pm on Wednesday.
Reacting to the development in a statement, the Director of Media and Publicity of SSACO, Bisi Oladele, condemned the alleged attack and called on Adekanmbi and Governor Seyi Makinde to caution their supporters against acts of political violence.
The organisation warned that no political party or government should use its influence to intimidate opposition members or deny them their rights as citizens.
It described the incident as another example of what it called a growing pattern of intimidation against opposition members in Oyo State.
“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 embrace peaceful political engagement and concentrate on issues rather than attacks on political opponents.
It also called on the Oyo State Commissioner of Police to investigate the incident, identify those responsible and ensure they were brought to justice.
The organisation maintained that political differences should not be allowed to threaten the safety and freedom of residents, insisting that public institutions must remain open to all citizens regardless of their party affiliations.
“Oyo State belongs to us all, and no one should use government power to prevent opposition members from living a peaceful life,” the statement added.
