SDP supporters were still arranging chairs and canopies for the rally when the hoodlums descended on them and destroyed vehicles parked nearby and other valuable things at the venue.
Armed political thugs have attacked and disrupted the governorship campaign rally of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ejule, Ofu local government area of Kogi state.
The hoodlums suspected to be members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state also reportedly damaged vehicles and other valuables worth millions of naira.
According to reports, the rally had yet to commence on Wednesday when the gunmen allegedly working for the APC, invaded the St. Matthew’s Primary School venue of the rally and started shooting sporadically.
The shooting reportedly sent supporters of the SDP candidate, Murtala Ajaka, running helter-skelter.
It was gathered that SDP supporters were still arranging chairs and canopies for the rally when the hoodlums descended on them and destroyed vehicles parked nearby and other valuable things at the venue.
Meanwhile, the Director of Media and Communications for Muri/Sam Governorship Campaign Council, Faruk Adejoh-Audu, has accused the ruling APC of sponsoring the attack.
“The gunmen led by one Mohammed Nasir Alfa said to be the Assistant State Chairman of the APC (Kogi East District) descended on the rally venue at Ejule and started shooting sporadically to disperse a mammoth crowd of SDP supporters that had gathered for the event,’ he said.
He said witnesses identified some dreaded thugs known to be working for the APC among the armed men said to be over 30 in number.
“The Muri/Sam Campaign Council is aware of a standing threat by Mr Yahaya Bello to his aides, appointees and senior APC officials that they will face his wrath if an SDP event is allowed to be held in their home of origin.
“This brazen and desperate descent to violence by a sitting governor using his aides and thugs has gone unredressed so far despite our repeated outcries.
“The election date is barely three weeks away and the desperation of Mr Bello who is parading his cousin, a thoroughly tainted candidate as his successor is escalating,” he alleged.
The campaign council called on President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to urgently intervene and address the situation in Kogi before it undermines democracy in the state.
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