Supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP clashed at Idanre town in the Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State.
According to a source, the Chairman of the PDP in the Idanre Local Government Area, Mr. Bola Ogundolu, was also injured during the fall out, and was hurriedly taken to an unidentified private hospital in the town. The conflict has left several residents injured.
The source revealed that: “Members of the two parties were to hold their get-together today (yesterday); they were both granted permission by the Divisional Police Officer in the town.
“But in the morning, some APC thugs went to the house of the PDP chairman, where some people were preparing food for the ceremony. The boys (suspected APC supporters) invaded the house and attacked everybody in the house; they took away all the foods that had been prepared.
“The chairman was attacked in front of the DPO when he went to report the activities of the hoodlums at the Division. He was seriously injured by the thugs.”
Also speaking on the clash, was a PDP chieftain in the town, Mr. Mayokun Akinmoladun, who said the clash happened around 8.30am on Thursday.
He alleged that the PDP had earlier submitted a letter to the police and other security agencies in the state for permission to hold the event, which, he said was granted.
“The APC supporters attacked and maimed our people in our chairman’s house; they destroyed our canopy, our chairs; they stole all the food we prepared. They also injured our chairman.”
In his reaction, the state chairman of the APC, Mr. Ade Adetimehin, said there was no fight in the town that involved members of the ruling party.
“I was not aware of the incident; if my members fought anywhere, I would have been informed. I am in Idanre now (yesterday) and nothing of such has been reported to me,” Adetimehin said.
When contacted the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Femi Joseph, however confirmed the incident, saying peace had returned to the town as the two parties had agreed to make peace.
But he debunked claims that the Idanre PDP chairman was beaten at the police station by hoodlums.
Joseph said, “We had met with the leaders of the two parties and thank God the matter has been resolved amicably. The caretaker chairman of the APC in the local government has offered to compensate the PDP for all they lost. If the PDP too wants to hold their own party tomorrow, we are ready to give them security.”
