By Olawale Ogunbusola, Ibadan

Suspected hoodlums have attacked supporters of the Accord Party governorship candidate in Oyo State, Oriyomi Hamzat, during a welcome procession for his return from the United Kingdom on Wednesday.

Hamzat’s supporters had gathered in large numbers at the Ibadan Toll Gate to receive the candidate, whose name was recently released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last weekend.

The procession, which was peaceful from Toll Gate through Challenge, turned chaotic at the Molete Under-Bridge when unidentified thugs allegedly broke bottles, shot sporadically into the air and attacked participants with machetes, throwing the area into confusion.

Many supporters, especially females, sustained injuries in the attack. At least, three (3) staunch members of the Accord Party were said to have been critically injured and rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.

Security operatives at the scene were said to have intervened to secure the procession and forestall further political clashes.

 

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Meanwhile, commuters and other road users plying the Bode-Molete Road have been urged to exercise caution and vigilance following the incident.

Reacting to the attack, the spokesperson for the governorship candidate, Samuel Ibikunle, popularly known as “Arugbo Boi”, described the incident as condemnable.

He said the attack breaches the right to political association and affiliation as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and called on the police and other security agencies to investigate and bring the culprits to book.

Arugbo Boi warned that such intimidation, even during a mere welcome procession, could fuel voter apathy if not checked.

” Women were seriously injured. Vehicles damaged. All these if unchecked will further promote voter apathy in the nation’s electioneering processes.”, he said.

He alleged that the attackers, whom he referred to as “Star Boy” thugs, attempted to disrupt the rally, but insisted that members of the Accord Party remain law-abiding and would not be provoked into political violence.

He stressed that the procession would continue despite the provocation, disruption and intimidation.