Eyitayo Jegede, the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dissociated himself with suspected thugs arrested with firearms at Ifon in Ose Local Government, Ondo state.
Jegede was billed to visit Ifon as part of his grassroot campaign tour.
The suspects were inside a Toyota Sienna bus visibly branded with the PDP candidate’s campaign pictures.
Earlier last week, a clash was reported between the supporters of Jegede and Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu at Oba Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government where eight persons were injured and several vehicles destroyed.
In a press statement addressing the arrest of the hoodlums in a PDP branded vehicle, The Chairman of Jegede Campaign Organisation, Gbenga Akinmoyo, said that the public had been made aware of plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to adorn political thugs in PDP branded materials to unleash mayhem on itself and political gathering of other parties, with a view of putting the blame on the PDP.
The statement reads:
“The information about the arrest of some hoodlums in branded vehicles wearing PDP logo at Ifon in Ose Local Government while our campaign train is due to make a stop in the town is nothing but an attempt by the APC to make good its evil plans.
“While thanking the security agencies for their vigilance in averting a needless mayhem, we urge the public to remain focused and not fall for the antics of the ruling APC, who are determined to draw us into unproductive arguments that can distract us from the issues that border on the welfare of our people and failure of the APC government in addressing them.”
In a swift reaction, the spokesman for the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation, Olatunde Richard described the action of the PDP as shocking and called for more investigation into the party’s campaign activities.
Richard said: “While we praise the police authority for its gallantry efforts at arresting these hooligans, we condemn this act in strong terms and call for more investigation into the PDP campaign activities.
“This is happening despite appeals to politicians to allow peace reign before, during and after the governorship election, making one to ask if the PDP and thuggery are Siamese twins.”