Oyo APC urges probe into attack on Oriyomi Hamzat’s campaign team

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has called on relevant security agencies to launch a thorough investigation into Wednesday’s violent attack on the campaign team of the Accord governorship candidate, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat. The attack reportedly left many of his supporters critically injured, while palpable tension continues to grip parts of Ibadan, the state capital.

Reports indicated that the incident occurred in the Molete area of Ibadan around noon on Wednesday, when suspected members of the Park Management System (PMS) allegedly emerged and began attacking occupants of vehicles conveying Accord supporters and candidates during a street campaign. Eyewitnesses said the attackers were armed with dangerous weapons, which they used to inflict varying degrees of injuries on their victims.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the Oyo APC berated Governor Seyi Makinde over an alleged order to PMS officials to ensure that commercial motorists displayed only the campaign materials of APM candidates and decorated their vehicles, including tricycles and motorcycles, with the same materials.

“Just last week, members of the APC were attacked in three different places in Ibadan, and all accusing fingers were pointed at the APM gladiators, who are known promoters of the political thuggery arm of the Park Management System (PMS) since 2019. The same set of state-backed violent elements have been linked to the vandalisation and destruction of campaign billboards, signage materials and posters belonging to opposition candidates in the state in recent times.

“The attack on the Accord campaign train happened in broad daylight, and some residents could identify the culprits. However, we do not want to pre-empt the outcome of an objective and thorough investigation expected from the police and other security agencies. Therefore, we urge members of the public to remain calm and vigilant. Those who work as thugs for undemocratic elements in the political space are part of society, and they must be exposed at all costs.

“The same power mongers who are compelling beleaguered commercial motorists to take up APM campaign assignments are responsible for sponsoring violent attacks against members of opposition parties in the state. The government of late Senator Abiola Ajimobi took us away from the era of political violence, and attempts by the current administration to revive it will be resisted by the good people of the state,” the APC added.