PDP National Auditor, Adeyanju, others escape attack as Ogun Tribunal reserves judgment
The National Auditor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Wole Adeyanju and Ogun State chairman of the party, Chief Bayo Dayo escaped death by whiskers Tuesday as thugs suspected to be loyalists to the All Progressives Congress (APC) attacked them inside the premises of the State High Court, Isabo Abeokuta, venue of the Election Petition Tribunal.
For the quick intervention of the heavily armed policemen led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bello Makwashi and men of the Department of State Security (DSS), that came to their rescue, the party leaders including Boye Adesina and Comrade Niyi Osoba could have been killed.
But scores of the PDP supporters including former chairman of Yewa North local council, Evangelist Titus Olusoji Eweje, Sesan Orelaja former Women Leader of the Labour Party (LP) Mrs Omolola Soyombo were not that lucky as they were thoroughly beaten by the thugs.
Some of the victims that sustained various degree of injury were rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Abeokuta where they are receiving treatment.
Some of them escaped by scaling through the fence of the court to avoid the coordinated attack by the APC thugs.
The incident happened just as the Election Petition Tribunal adopted final addresses of the counsels to the parties in dispute.
Ogun State PDP and its candidate, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka had approached the tribunal challenging the victory of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, saying it was fraught with electoral malpractices.
The petitioners had requested the court to cancel elections in nine local councils and declare Isiaka the winner of April 11, this election or order for a free election in those contentious local councils.
Meanwhile the Director of Publicity of Gboyega Isiaka Campaign Organisation (GNICO) Comrade Ifekayode Akinbode has condemned the attack of the PDP leaders and supporters, describing it as “barbaric and senseless”.
Akinbode who noted that Tuesday’s attack would be the third time PDP supporters would be attacked in the court premises warned Governor Amosun to call his party members to order for peace to reign in the state.
“We are baffled, once again, by the barbaric attitude of APC supporters that they have government backing to terrorize and attack opposition members in the state. If they know they have a good case, they should wait for the judgment and not resort to self help. But they should be reminded that the matter would be decided by the Tribunal and not on the street. We strongly condemn what they did today and we appeal to all our supporters to remain calm in the face of unprovoked attack by loyalists of a sinking party that is already weeping before judgment”.
