APC leaders attacked for endorsing Ekiti lawmaker’s second term bid

Suspected to be political thugs have launched an attack on some Ekiti State leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for endorsing a member of the State House of Assembly, Hon Tajudeen Akingbolu’s second term bid.

Newsflash Nigeria learnt that the incident occurred on Tuesday in Erinjiyan Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government Area of the state.

According to the report, the leaders led by former Ekiti APC State Chairman, Chief Jide Awe and other top-notchers, were at a meeting when the suspected political thugs attacked them.

Other leaders at the event were the Chairman of the Ekiti West Local Government, Hon. Sedan Okere, former Deputy Speaker, Ekiti House of Assembly, Hon. Gbenga Odebunmi, former Chairman of Ekiti West Local Government, Otunba Akin Oluwadare and others.

However, Akingbolu, who related the attack to newsmen, had claimed that the thugs were allegedly being prodded by one of the contestants for the assembly seat and former Council Chairman, who was said to be aggrieved over the endorsement.

Recounting how the attack happened, Akingbolu, currently representing Ekiti West constituency 1 in the Assembly, said the meeting, which started at 10 am was orderly and hitch-free until 10.30 am when Otunba Akin Oluwadare read the communique issued by the elders.

Akingbolu said: “Immediately it was announced that the leadership of the constituency had settled for Ward 01 and adopted me, the thugs, who came in the chartered bus and appeared in uniform customized t-shirts unleashed terror on them.

“It became a free for all as the youths started singing war songs and hauling stones at the leaders while demanding that they wanted to attack me specifically. All the leaders had to scamper to safety.”

In the communique read by Oluwadare at the meeting endorsing Akingbolu, the leaders said they took the action to resolve the lingering crisis rocking the contest for the House of Assembly seat and equitable distribution of positions in the council.

It reads: “That the Constituency 1 House of Assembly slot should be zoned to Ward 01, Aramoko to balance the political equation between Ward 01 and Ward 02.

“That we declare our support for the current occupier of the seat, Hon. Tajudeen Akingbolu, having provided quality representation and performed his legislative duties adequately to proceed to contest the forthcoming house of Assembly election.

“That is the interest of peace and mutual understanding, other contestants for the seat should withdraw and continue engaging the elders’ leaders of the party in pursuit of other interests.

“That the elders will do everything humanly possible to unite all the stakeholders ahead of the June 18 election as well as factoring in the interest of the House of Assembly contestants from local government to the state”.

Oluwadare in the communique stated that Agunbiade, who is from Aramoko ward 2 can’t take the slot owing to the fact that the State Universal Basic Education Board Chairman, Prof Femi Akinwumi, Commissioner for Arts & Culture, Prof Rasaq Ojo Bakare, current Chairman, Ekiti West Local Government, are from the ward.

He added that the leaders from Erijiyan, Ikogosi and Ipole conceded the assembly to Aramoko ward 1, because the Governorship candidate of the party, Hon Biodun Oyebanji, comes from the axis.

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