APC, PDP supporters clash in Ogun

SUPPORTERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State at the weekend fought each other in Iperu, in Remo Local Council Area of the State, resulting in most of them sustaining various degrees of injuries.

    The clash, which is the first of such since political campaigns towards the forthcoming general elections began a couple of months ago resulted in destruction of properties, including billboards, vehicles and shops.

    The billboards were that of the PDP House of Representatives candidate for Remo Federal Constituency, Hon.Oladipupo Adebutu. 

     An eye witness told The Guardian that trouble started when the Campaign train of the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun got to Iperu and the APC Senatorial Candidate, Ogun East, Prince Dapo Abiodun and APC’s House of Assembly Candidate, Ikenne State Constituency, Olusola Sonuga embarked on a walk across Iperu township with their supporters to welcome the Governor and his entourage.

    “It was during the walk on the old Lagos-Ibadan road of the town that supporters of the two parties clashed and used dangerous weapons freely on each other”, the eyewitness disclosed.

     During the brawl, passersby scampered for safety while some innocent people, including school children who had just closed from school, reportedly sustained various degrees of injury in the process.

    Reacting, the Chairman of the PDP, Ikenne Local Government, Gboyega Ogunfowokan accused members of APC of masterminding the violence. But the     Chairman Media and Publicity of Amosun campaign Organisation, Femi Sowoolu denied the allegation and blamed the PDP for the clash.

   Ogunfowokan said “The PDP remains law-abiding and will always be of good conduct, despite several provocation and record of various attacks among which was the 17th of January 2015 incident, when our secretariat at Ikenne was vandalised”.

    While debunking that his Party (APC) was responsible for the attack, Sowoolu said “The violence was not masterminded by APC members”.

     He said, “The Governor was too busy with his work for him to have time for violence”, saying, “the APC was on ground hence does not need to unleash violence on the people of the state”.

     According to him, “We are totally focused.  We are peaceful. We are on ground. We have government that performs”.