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Hoodlums Attack SDP Office In Ondo, Injure Party Members
By Emmanuel Awosika
Some members of the Social Democratic Party in Ondo were left injured after armed thugs interrupted a meeting at party’s secretariat in Idanre town on Tuesday.
According to eyewitness reports, the group of hoodlums, wielding machetes and axes, gained entrance to the building, and assaulted members who were meeting at the time.
Among those injured in the attack is Bankole Akinselure, one of SDP’s candidate in the forthcoming Ondo State Local Government elections and his running mate, Idowu Akinrotohun.
The attack comes barely four days to the commencement of local government council elections scheduled to hold next week across the state.
The SDP’s hierarchy reacted to attack, sending a petition to the state Commissioner of Police as well as the Inspector General of Police in Abuja.
In the petition, the SDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) led by the Deputy National Chairman (South), Dr Olu Agunloye, expressed concerns at the “unwarranted attacks on members of the Social Democratic Party in the State.”
The petition gave various instances where its members had been attacked by thugs hired by rival parties.
“On 12 August 2020: Our Candidate, Mr Henry Adeniran Aiku was assaulted by suspected APC members at 10.30 pm at Sijuade Area in Akure. His assailants pounced on him when he asked why they were tearing off his (Aiku’s) posters. The case was later reported to the DPO at Ala Police Station and also to PPRO at the State headquarters.
“On 14 August 2020: Our member, Mr Adeola Adeboboye, was attacked at 7.30 pm near Maronu market beside the new stadium in Akure. The hoodlums shouted: “where is the chairman?”; “why are you disturbing Government with useless jingles”.
“On 16 August 2020: In one day, 12 banners of our candidate, Princess Ronke Oluyede were destroyed at Ayede Ogbese in Akure North LG by suspected APC members, thugs or supporters at night before daybreak of Sunday, 16 August,” it said.
The petition also stated that the party was worried about the attacks, especially as “fingers are pointing at APC members or their thugs”.
Furthermore, the party asked the Commissioner of Police should to caution the leadership of the APC Ondo Chapter to prevent a breakdown in low and order in the state.
