Attacks: Act with conscience, do thorough investigation – Ogun PDP tells police

Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called on the Nigeria Police to act with conscience and conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged attack on its campaign train in Ososa, Odogbolu Local Government Area.

The state chairman of the party, Dr Abayomi Tella, made the appeal on Thursday in Abeokuta while addressing newsmen on alleged political harassment and intimidation of PDP members.

Tella appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to deploy a special investigation team to the state over the alleged attack.

DAILY POST learnt that the alleged shooting occurred in Ososa, the hometown of the APC deputy governorship candidate, Mrs Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun.

The PDP chairman said the incident occurred on Wednesday during the party’s Ogun East campaign flag-off, which took off peacefully from various local governments through Ijebu-Ode to Odogbolu.

According to him, on getting to Ososa, hoodlums attacked the last batch of vehicles in the convoy with gunshots and stones, vandalising many vehicles and injuring members.

The party said the investigation should unravel the type of firearm used in the attack, alleging that bullets fired during the incident penetrated the alloy rim of a vehicle in its convoy.

Recall that the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Olufemi Nuberu, had earlier condemned the alleged sporadic shooting, noting that it involved security personnel attached to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu.

Nuberu called on the IGP to launch an investigation into the incident, stressing that anyone found culpable should be held accountable.

Speaking to newsmen, the PDP chairman, Tella, described the IGP as an exemplary and conscientious leader who would not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands, insisting that the PDP remains a peaceful party.

He said, “We know what politics is in Nigeria. IGP Olatunji Ridwan Disu is an exemplary leader, a conscientious personality who will do everything to ensure that people do not take the law into their own hands.

“The first thing I would plead with the IG to do is to thoroughly investigate what transpired on Wednesday and ascertain what type of gun was used to shoot at our candidate’s car. What type of gun was used to shoot at that particular rim that can penetrate it? I think that’s important.

“I think I have a right to walk anywhere in Ogun State, even by extension, in Nigeria. If I now have to be walking around and I have to watch my back, then it means they want to fail the IG. But I stand with him that he will not fail.

“So, by this medium, I request that he send his special team to Ogun State to come and investigate this particular issue because the PDP is a peaceful party. And that’s why we have to quickly run to the police,” he said.

Tella stated that the case was reported at the Idowa Police Division and Igbeba Area Command, but lamented that the police arrested PDP members who were supposed to be complainants.

According to him, no fewer than five members are still in custody, while the perpetrators have not been arrested.

“These complainants are the people who were attacked, and they are our members. But they are the ones the police are now arresting, while the perpetrators of the attack against us have been left untouched.

“This, therefore, is to let the public know what the ruling party is doing to oppress and suppress the opposition. We also want to appeal to the Nigerian Police to act with conscience and conduct a thorough investigation into this particular matter.

“We also want the public to be aware of what we believe are the game plans of the ruling party to victimise and oppress the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he added.