An electioneering rally organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, yesterday was riddled in crisis as supporters of the party and the rival Action Alliance (AA) engaged in physical brawl resulting in gunshots by security forces to quell further commotion.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that supporters of the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Mr Hope Uzodinma, and those of his Action Alliance (AA) counterpart, Mr Uche Nwosu, engaged in a fight at the APC women and youths rally.

Supporters of Nwosu were chanting victory songs and raising his posters in the air when the clash began.

Security operatives, however, intervened shooting sporadically in the air while warding off the VIP stand where the wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, who represented Hajia Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, was seated alongside other dignitaries.

NAN reports that at least three persons were injured as the crowd dispersed following the gunshots.

Reacting to the incident, the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, alleged that the fight was caused by thugs hired by Uzodinma.

He described the relationship between AA and APC in the state as good, but insisted that Uzodinma would not win the governorship election.

Said he: “Hope Uzodinma can never win the governorship election in the state. The alliance between AA and APC is a perfect one.

“We are working to deliver President Buhari and Uche Nwosu in the state.”

Mrs Osinbajo, however, told the crowd to vote for Buhari and APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.

Speaking to NAN, a top politician in the state who pleaded anonymity, asked why the AA governorship candidate should attend a rally organised by the APC.

“This is a serious anti-party activity,” he said. (NAN)

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