The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has called on the All Progressives Movement (APM) governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, to rein in his supporters following an alleged attack on two members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Ibadan North Local Government Secretariat.
The organisation’s reaction followed an incident on Wednesday in which two APC members, Abiola Abulesowo and Abanise Olanrewaju, were allegedly assaulted by suspected APM supporters while visiting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office at the local government secretariat.
The victims were said to have accompanied a newly registered voter to the INEC office when the alleged attackers identified them as APC members and challenged their presence at the secretariat.
Recounting their ordeal, Abulesowo said the assailants questioned why they entered the facility, allegedly insisting that the secretariat was under the control of the APM, the ruling party in Oyo State.
He said the duo responded that the local government secretariat belonged to all Nigerians and was not the exclusive preserve of any political party.
According to him, the exchange soon degenerated into violence, with the attackers allegedly raining slaps and punches on them. He added that they fled but were pursued and later accosted by suspected Park Management System (PMS) members at a bus stop, who allegedly continued the assault.
“They tore our clothes and thoroughly embarrassed us, just because we are APC members,” Abulesowo said, adding that the incident occurred at about 1pm on Wednesday.
In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, SSACO condemned the alleged attack and urged Adekanmbi and Governor Seyi Makinde to caution their supporters against acts of violence.
The organisation warned against the use of government influence or political power to intimidate opposition members, insisting that every resident of the state, irrespective of political affiliation, had the right to move freely and participate in political activities.
Describing the incident as part of what it called a disturbing pattern of intimidation of opposition members in the state, SSACO alleged that the development reflected growing intolerance under the Makinde administration.
The campaign organisation said political disagreements should be settled through peaceful engagement and issue-based campaigns rather than violence and intimidation.
It urged the governor and the APM governorship candidate to discourage their supporters from engaging in provocative acts, stressing that political campaigns should be conducted in an atmosphere of peace and mutual respect.
SSACO also called on the Oyo State Commissioner of Police to investigate the incident, identify those responsible and ensure they were brought to justice.
It maintained that Oyo State belonged to all residents, warning that no political party or government should use its position to deny opposition members their rights or subject them to violence.
