It has been reported that two people have died and many others have been injured as a result of a clash between supporters Congress of All Progressives (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Iki, Osun State.
At the center of the clash that occurred on Tuesday were Amidu Tadese, the APC senatorial candidate from Osun West District and his opponent Lere Oyewumi of the PDP.
The two candidates announced that they have resolved their campaign rallies for Ikire on the same day.
Mr. Tadese said that Mr. Oyewumi led a group of thugs to attack the gathering of his supporters when they were about to start the demonstration.
“Our supporters raised their canolas and gathered in Ikire Ward 9 before the incident happened. We were about to start the meeting when we saw thugs shooting shortly after someone offered the opening prayers at the meeting,” he said.
“There were over 30 led by the PDP Osun West Senatorial candidate, Akogun Lere Oyewumi.
“They were shooting from around Naira and Kobo and before we knew it, they were there attacking people and destroying property, including our vehicles and commercial and minibuses and tricycles,” he added.
But Mr. Oyewumi said it was APC members who attacked and killed two of his supporters.
“The rogue APC attacked our members in the night coming from our rally and now two people have been killed while some of our members are receiving treatment in a hospital,” he said.
“They started attacking us while we were running for the safety of our lives.”
Yemisi Opalola, the state police spokesperson, confirmed the incident.
Mrs Opalola said one person was confirmed dead while others were receiving treatment at the hospital.
“There was a clash between the two parties yesterday and when the police intervened, we resolved the crisis amicably for both parties.
“They attacked each other again in the night which killed one person and injured others. The injured have been taken to the hospital,” he said.
“When we questioned one of the injured victims, he said that they had taken five people to the hospital and only saw two of them this morning, so he didn’t know where the other three people were.”
The police spokesperson said that normality has been restored around Ikire.
“Normal has returned to the area, now people are going about their business.”
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Osun State was ruled by the APC for 12 years from 2010 until the PDP won the last gubernatorial election in the state on July 16.
Since the elections, many cases of political violence between the two parties have been reported.
The governorship election petition court will on Friday rule on the petition filed by the APC against the return of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the election.
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