Blame game ensues as PDP and APC clash in Ibadan

Victims and casualties

The Oyo state chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are currently trading blame over the identity of victims, number of casualties and factors responsible for Thursday’s clash in Ibadan. About three people were reportedly killed on Thursday evening, and several others were seriously injured during the clash between party supporters. Some vehicles and motorcycles were also damaged.

PDP’s claims

The PDP claimed that all the victims were its members. It identified one of the victims as the Ward 10 councillor in Ibadan South East local government area. The Oyo state chapter of PDP spoke in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Akeem Olatunji. Olatunji said that the killing of its ward 10 councilor in Ibadan South East local government by suspected APC members had confirmed its series of security alerts. Olatunji said, “We are very disturbed as a party by this ugly turn of events. We never expected it would be taken this far by the Oyo APC and its Governorship candidate… Unfortunately, we already have three innocent lives cut off from the surface of the earth…”

APC’s response

However, the APC accused the member representing Ibadan North East/Ibadan South East federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Abass Adigun, of being responsible for the clash. The APC in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, enjoined the state police command to investigate the ugly incident thoroughly. Sadare in the statement made available to DAILY POST noted that this will help to ensure that those found culpable were made to face the full wrath of the law. “The exact location of the ugly incident was the Ibadan South East local government secretariat…”

Election-related violence

DAILY POST reports that the two political parties are contesting the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections billed to take place on Saturday in the state. Election-related violence is a common occurrence in Nigeria, and the run-up to the Oyo state election has already witnessed several violent clashes between rival supporters. Both parties are expected to continue pointing fingers at each other until the police complete their investigation and establish who the attackers were and what motivated the attack. Only then can the perpetrators be held accountable for the loss of lives and property that resulted from the clash.

Credit: https://dailypost.ng/2023/03/17/pdp-apc-trade-words-over-victims-of-ibadan-clash/

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