Osun Election: Scores injured as gunmen attack APC rally in Ilesa

Tension rose in Ilesa, Osun State, on Saturday after armed men reportedly attacked supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during a campaign rally.

The incident occurred while APC supporters were returning to the party secretariat after an early-morning rally around the Oke-Omiru area of Ilesa.

A party member identified simply as Segun said the supporters were marching towards Isokun when they were allegedly ambushed.

“We were having an early-morning rally today when we were on our way back to our secretariat. We were ambushed by hoodlums led by a lawmaker at the Osun State House of Assembly,” he said.

“The hoodlums shot into the air to scare us, but some of us stayed. We charged at them, and then they fired into the campaign rally, leaving so many members injured.”

“We regrouped for the protest. Hon Akerele mobilised his thugs to the scene again to disrupt the whole thing. We were attacked and maimed. It is so unfortunate.”

He disclosed, “We have taken our members to hospital; a bullet hit a truck driver and some passers-by. One of our members, named Tobi, is currently at Wesley Guild Teaching Hospital.”

Also, the Head of Media, APC Campaign Council, Oluremi Omowaiye, fingered the Accord Party lawmaker, Akerele, for the attack.

The attack led to members of the APC in Ilesa staging a protest on the street to demand the arrest of the Osun State Assembly Chief Whip, Olawale Akerele.

Reacting to the development, Hon Olawale Akere explained that “I was driving along Isokun Road when the APC rally met me. They started shooting into the air, but I had my security, who are Amotekun, inside the car. They shot into the air to scare them. Then we left the place.

“I was later called by the DPO that there is an allegation against me that I shot at APC members. I quickly went to the station to honour the invite and state my own side of the story.”

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