How suspected political thugs attacked ADC supporters in Edo

Gunmen, suspected to be political thugs yesterday swooped on supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) supporters shortly after the defection of former Edo Labour Party (LP), governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, to the ADC.

The Edo State Police Command confirmed the report through its spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem.

According her, shortly after the event concluded, a group of suspected hoodlums disrupted the premises and chased attendees away.

“Some plastic chairs and canopies were damaged during the incident. No casualties were reported”

She disclosed the personnel of the Command responded swiftly to the distress call, prompting the suspects to flee the scene.

“Security has since been reinforced around the premises, and normalcy has been fully restored.

“The situation remains under control while investigations are ungoing to arrest the perpetrators of this crime,” she said.

It was gathered that the suspected thugs reportedly invaded the Secretariat shortly after the former LP presidential candidate in 2023 election Peter Obi and other dignitaries had left the venue to Chief John Odogie-Oyegun’s compound for a brief stop over. The attackers allegedly injured many supporters of the party.

Eyes witnesses said the suspected thugs who came in several vehicles allegedly move from the Secretariat to Chief Oyegun’s house where the dignitaries were having meeting and shattered the classes of the vehicle parked outside the house.

Confirming the incident, the ADC Party Chairman, Kenneth Odion, fingered the rulling party in the state for the alleged attack.

He said the suspected thugs stormed the secretariat after Peter and other dignitaries had left the venue of the defection.

He said many supporters especially women sustained injuries while chairs and canopy were destroyed during the attack.

Odion explained that after attacking supporters at the Secretariat, the suspected thugs came to Chief Oyegun’s and shattered the classes of vehtmicles parked at the house.

According to him, this is the usual way of APC sending thugs to intimidate other parties because they don’t want challenge in Edo, adding that APC had come to stay in the state.

This is coming a day after APC state chairman, Jarrett Tenebe said other parties, especially ADC, are not welcome in the state

Tenebe, speaking during the commissioning of 54 tractors on Monday said the party has succeeded in driving out bad governance, noting that Governor Okpebholo has brought practical governance and visible development.

“I advised the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) not to come into Edo State as the governor is working and the state is not for other political parties,” Tenebe said, urging opposition parties not to constitute obstacles to development.

He added that no opposition could stop the 3.5 million votes promised to President Tinubu