Group accuses PDP, ZLP candidates of using thugs to attack Akeredolu supporters

A political advocacy group, Pentagon Movement Group (PMG), has raised an alarm that armed thugs and militants loyal to the governorship candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Mr. Eyitayo Jegede and Agboola Ajayi respectively, are currently unleashing violent attacks against its members who are holding simultaneous meetings at the moment in all the 203 wards of the State.

The group, led by the son of the state governor, Mr. Babajide Akeredolu, also accused the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde ,of importing thugs into Ondo Town in Ondo West Local Government Area of the state to scare PMG members away where they are holding meetings this afternoon.

In a statement made available by the group’s Coordinator in Ondo State, Mr. Lulu Fawehinmi, PMG called on security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities in the interest of peace and integrity of the election holding tomorrow.

“In Ondo Town, thugs brought in from Ibadan by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State went to the Yaba Area of the City to attack our members where they were holding strategic meetings. Our people, fortunately, were able to chase the thugs away with the support of the locals.

“Similar things happened in Oke Ijebu area of Akure this afternoon, our members were intimidated, it took the intervention of the police on routine check before the thugs could be chased away.

“In Ese/Odo and Okitipupa LGAs, thugs loyal to Agboola Ajayi of ZLP unleashed terror against our people who were holding meetings, strategizing on how to support the candidate of their choice peacefully tomorrow but knowingly they have been rejected by the people, these locusts, descended on the people gathering peacefully but we thank God there was no casualty.

“From Intelligence report available at our disposal, we can say very expressly that the opposition are embittered and totally sad over the total acceptability of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu across the state. They are terribly sad that their candidates have been rejected by the people, hence, their resort to violence against lawful people.

“We sympathise with these impending bad losers. However, we wish to put them on notice that he who makes peaceful coexistence impossible, makes violence inevitable,” Fawehinmi, said.