Some supporters of the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, have been attacked in the Lekki area of Lagos during the party’s presidential campaign rally in the state.
Several vehicles, including cars and a coastal bus with a banner carrying pictures of Obi and his running mate, Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, were also vandalised on Saturday.
It was learnt that the supporters were on their way to the Tafawa Balewa Square, the venue of the rally in Lagos Island when they were attacked.
Videos and pictures of the attack were posted online, with the victims blaming the attack on the supporters of the All Progressives Congress.
“On our way to the rally, this is just part of what happened. Can you imagine the attack on our bus; injuring so many obidients (Peter Obi’s supporters),” one of the supporters lamented?
Another supporter said the hoodlums dispossessed them of their valuables, insisting that they would not give up despite the intimidation.
He said, “We will not give up. We won’t give up. Look at what APC (supporters) did. They attacked us at Jakande Roundabout. They stole everything and two guys were hacked. They are at Jakande Police Station. Look at what they did to this car (pointing at a vandalised Sienna).”
An ‘obedient’ who videoed a vandalised car also lamented, saying “Na democracy be this abi? We dey do rally jeje, dem come with machetes; many of them. Se na democracy be this?”
The police spokesperson in Lagos, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, also confirmed the attack via his Twitter handle.
“Jakande Ward Chairman of Labour Party commendably reported an attack on his party members at Ilasan Division. Four injured persons have been given medical attention. DPO Ilasan has commenced preliminary investigations while SCID is to fully take over investigations,” he said.
However, the state APC denied involvement in the attack on LP motorcade and called on the security agencies to wade in.
The spokesperson for APC, Seye Oladejo in a chat with Daily Trust said the allegation that the APC was responsible for the attack was not substantiated.
According to him, the APC’s position has always been for the security agencies to do their job and bring those found culpable in any attack to book.
“We have always called on the security agencies to bring the culprits to book,” he said, those who alleged “must be able to provide evidence and point at suspects and I am sure the police know what to do.”
“We abhor violence as a party. Everybody has the constitutional right to support whichever party they choose, that catches their fancy and I don’t think that should make any kind of violence.”
Oladejo noted that the APC doesn’t see Labour Party as a rival that poses any threat to its dominance.
Asked if Labour Party is a threat to APC, he retorted: “Definitely far from it. Maybe they are competing with another party, they are very far from us. They are not competing against the ruling party and with the performance of my governor and other people we put in place in the past four years, we have no reason to express concern at whatever level.”
Meanwhile, the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has reacted to the incident.
Obi condemned every form of violence and political thuggery and the incessant attacks on my Obedient supporters.
His statement was contained in a post via his verified Twitter handle on Saturday.
Obi called on the security forces nationwide to protect those exercising their fundamental rights of free speech and assembly.
He said, “As we go into the final stretch for the 2023 elections, I call on all Nigerians regardless of political affiliation or tendency, to eschew violence. I condemn any form of violence and political thuggery; and especially the incessant attacks on my Obedient supporters.
“I call on the security forces nationwide to protect those exercising their fundamental rights of free speech and assembly. Our civic space must not shrink further.”
