Scores were injured in Idanre in Idanre Local Government area of Ondo State yesterday when the supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the main rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed in the town.
Among the injured was the Chairman of the PDP in the town, Mr Bola Ogundolu who was lying critically ill in a private hospital after he sustained injury after the attack on him in the Isalu area of the town.
Narrating the incident to reporters, an eyewitness said members of the two political parties were preparing to organize the end of the year party for their members in different locations in the town. Both PDP and APC were given police permit at different venues in the town
His words “Members of the two parties were to hold a get-together today (yesterday), they were both granted permission by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the town. In the morning as they were preparing the food in the house of the PDP chairman suspected APC supporters invaded the house and attacked and beat everybody in the house. They took away all the foods that were being prepared.
“The PDP chairman was attacked in front of the DPO when he went to report the activities of the hoodlums at the police station. He was seriously injured by the thugs. ”
Another witness said the clash were between the commercial motorcyclists who are members of both APC and PDP.
Another witness, Mr Mayokun Akinmoladun said the suspected hoodlums came around 8.30am. He said the PDP wrote to the police and other security agencies in the state which gave them the permission to hold the event.
The PDP Chieftain said” The APC supporters attacked and maim our people in our chairman’s house; they destroyed our canopy, our chairs. They also injured our chairman.
However, the acting Chairman of the APC, Mr. Ade Adetimehin said there was no clash in the town that involved members of his party.
His words” I was not aware of the incident, if my members fight anywhere, I would have been involved, I am in Idanre now and nothing of such has been reported to me.”
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr. Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident, said normalcy, had returned to the town as the two parties had agreed to let peace reign.
He also denied that the PDP chairman was beaten at the police station by the hoodlums.
Joseph said the APC sought approval to hold their get together and were provided security but from nowhere, it was learnt that the PDP were holding theirs.
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His words” we had met with the leaders of the two parties and thank God the matter has been resolved, the caretaker chairman of the APC in the local government had offered to compensate the PDP for all they have lost. If the PDP too want to hold their own party tomorrow, we are ready to give them security.”
