At least three people are said to have died and countless more were injured as a result of violent clashes between supporters of the opposition People Democratic Party and the ruling All Progressives Congress in Lagos State.
In order to identify and apprehend individuals responsible for the violence, both factions have urged that President Muhammadu Buhari and the necessary police agencies immediately begin an investigation into the clash.
Dr Olajide Adediran, better known as Jandor, the PDP's candidate for governor, was attacked on Friday while making a stop in one of Lagos State's 245 wards as part of his continuing campaign.
the High Chief, Baale of Ojuoluwa, in the Empire neighbourhood of the Surulere Local Government Area and threatened the chief not to meet the entourage during the two-day visit to the wards in Surulere, according to the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP).
Both the APC's Seye Oladejo and the PDP's Hakeem Amode made statements on Friday outlining their respective parties' ambitions.
“Our attention has been drawn to the terror unleashed on innocent and law-abiding citizens of Lagos state by the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in the forthcoming national elections, Jide Adediran, otherwise known as Jandor in the course of his campaign in Surulere Local Government,” Oladejo said in part of his statement.
“The incident left in its wake several injured victims, and three people reportedly died.
“We strongly condemn the unwarranted and unprovoked resort to violence on the state’s citizens in the name of electioneering campaign. In broad daylight, Jandor’s thugs fired guns at their hapless victims who ran for dear lives.
“Lagos cherishes its enviable status as the safest state in the country – a result of the long-running and painstaking investment in security.
“We view this attack as a ploy to instil fear in the hearts of would-be voters as we count down to the elections.
“It’s pathetic to note that a candidate seeking to govern the state could be seen actively promoting violence to disrupt the peace of the citizens.
“The PDP and its candidate have been busy in the past few days and have been crying in the media that their posters were being torn. Unknown to the public, he perfected his evil plans, which manifested at his rally.
“While we can imagine the untold misery and frustration that his faltering campaign might have visited on him, it ought not to result in the thirst for the blood of potential voters.
“We hereby call on the law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the incident, bring the culprits to book and beef security across the state with the apparent desperation of the opposition PDP to forestall a reoccurrence.
“We urge Lagosians to remain calm and law-abiding as the state government remains irrevocably committed to its onerous duty of ensuring the safety of lives and properties of all and sundry.”
In a statement, Amode called the incident “repugnant to deepening democracy in Lagos, clear evidence of APC high-handedness and imperialism rule.
The statement read in part, “The APC sponsored thugs in Surulere local government of Lagos state unleashed violence on persons and groups of people in the area ahead of the scheduled visitation of the PDP Gubernatorial candidate visit to the ward on Thursday and Friday, in continuation of Jandor’s tour of the 245 wards in Lagos state.
“The hoodlums went to the Baale of Ojuoluwa in the Empire area of the LGA to threaten him not to receive the entourage who was billed to pay him a courtesy visit.
“The gates leading to the entire empire area were locked, and vehicular movement was disrupted.
“In the same vein, the canopy and chairs arranged at Iponri Housing Estate were violently destroyed by APC killer-thugs armed with dangerous weapons, including guns. Many of our members making the arrangements were wounded in the fracas.
“The same set of the APC sponsored thugs mobilise themselves to Soloki street where Dr Adediran went to observe Jumat prayers wielding dangerous weapons, destroying vehicles on the entourage and violently snatching one of the campaign vehicles.
“They also vandalised the campaign vehicles of our house of Representatives candidates, Soyinka.
“It is important to point out that the APC-sponsored thugs went ahead to vandalise the PDP secretariat at No. 2 Shittu Street, Aguda, during which several members of our party sustained various degrees of injuries.
“A similar incident also occurred on Teniola Street where members of the community, waiting to receive the entourage of our Gubernatorial candidates, were dispersed, and many were also wounded during the attack.
“Our initial investigation revealed that the killer thugs were sponsored by the ruling APC candidate for the House of Representatives position in Constituency 2 of Surulere Local Government,
“We are once again using this opportunity to appeal to the President, and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammad Buhari, to use his good office to stem the undemocratic practises of APC in Lagos against opposition parties to ensure that the desire of Jandor to leave a legacy of a credible election is not truncated on the altar of selfishness and entitlement by the ruling party in the state.
“We also call on the Inspector General of Police to rise to the occasion and provide adequate security for all and sundry to enable them to exercise their franchise in the coming election.”
PDP consequently requested INEC to ensure that the alleged intimidation and harassment of opposition party members by the ruling party’s “sponsored killer-thugs” does not detract from their efforts towards legitimate elections, particularly in the state.
“Our appeal also goes to all members of the party to remain resolute and focused because the leadership of our party and our candidates cannot be cowed by the ruling APC killer-thugs and agbero elements in the state.”
It advised all true believers to consider the violence as “a show of a bad loser party who had nothing to offer the people of the state and would do anything to continue squandering of our commonwealth in the state.”