Supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed on Monday at a campaign rally in Omuo Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti East Local Government Area.

About 20 persons sustained various degrees of injuries.

Members of the APC were said to be holding a joint rally for the senatorial candidate in Ekiti South, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, and the House of Representatives candidate in Ekiti South Federal Constituency, Femi Bamisile, when suspected PDP thugs invaded the rally and attacked them.

Those who allegedly carried out the attacks were said to be those loyal to Senate Minority Leader Biodun Olujimi, PDP’s Ekiti South senatorial candidate.

Some APC supporters who were attacked – Adeniyi Saliu, Kayode Ojo and Adeniyi Ayo – sustained deep cuts in the heads, backs and stomachs.

They were taken to Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) in Ado-Ekiti for intensive medical care.

Fifteen others were said to have been wounded during the attack.

It was gathered that the perpetrators fled the town; the police are said to be on their trail to arrest and prosecute them.

Bamisile, a former House of Assembly Speaker and APC House of Representative candidate, described the attack as unfortunate and a threat to democracy.

The former Speaker noted that the desperation of some PDP members would subvert democracy.

He urged security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators without further delay.

“APC will not fold its arms and watch its members attacked by members of other political parties; hence, the need for a strong warning to troublemakers to retrace their steps and allow peace to reign in the land.

“Nobody has monopoly of violence. Therefore, PDP members should be aware of that and stop provoking peace-loving APC members in the state,” Bamisile said.

APC senatorial candidate and former Minister of Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, warned miscreants and political thugs planning violence and mayhem ahead of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections to be careful or risk going to prison.

Reacting to the attacks on APC members in Omuo Ekiti, allegedly sponsored by Senator Olujimi and the PDP, Adeyeye said the long arms of the law would catch up with political louts, no matter how fast they run.

Adeyeye said: “Arresting and prosecuting the suspects will serve as a deterrent to others inclined to political violence. I enjoin the security agencies to be on red alert to curtail the overbearing influence of these political violence perpetrators.

“Ekiti is a peaceful state and nobody should turn it into a theatre of war in the name of politics.”

But the Special Assistant (SA), Media, to Oluujimi on Public Communications, Chief Sanya Atofarati, exonerated the senator and her supporters from the attack.

He said the senator had no cause to unleash mayhem on her people.

Atofarati said: “Attacking political opponents is of no point. It is the APC that has been attacking others because violence is their principal identity.

“We have been going round campaigning in the senatorial district. There are no cases of violence. There is no reason for us to fight anybody. Residents of the senatorial district know this.

“We are going to the polls; we are sure of winning. So, why would we embark on attacking others? We are peace-loving. They should settle their differences.”

• The Nation report

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