Akure-FOR several hours, supporters of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu and another aspirant, Dr Olusegun Abraham engaged in a bloody clash.
Fight broke out when supporters of Abraham, who held a rally round the Akure metropolis to ask that the "stolen"mandate given to Akeredolu by the party's National Working Committee, NWC, members be restored were attacked at the party secretariat in Akure.
Placards displayed by the protesters had such inscriptions as "With Abraham we stand" "Restore Abraham's mandate" "Abraham is APC's candidate" and "Abraham is the authentic winner of September 3 primary".
Dangerous weapons, including guns were freely used as the supporters of Akeredolu and Abraham, engaged in a free for all.
Journalists and party supporters fled in different directions as the hoodlums attacked those at the party secretariat.
About 20 policemen with Armoured Personnel Carriers were deployed to the party secretariat to restore peace.
An unspecified number of party supporters and passers-by reportedly sustained injuries during the bloody clash.
Addressing newsmen, the spokesperson of the protesters Rotimi Agbede said: "We are protesting against the name submitted by the national leadership of our party. If as a party, we are preaching anti-corruption and a sane society, we cannot be seen to be doing otherwise. We don't want some people to drag our party to self-destruction. We are of the belief that the national leadership will see reasons with what we are saying.
Abraham reacts
Reacting to the attack on his supporters, Abraham alleged that the attack was sponsored by Akeredolu.
He said: "It was a peaceful rally asking for our mandate to be restored and not to be delayed. All of a sudden, the Aketi people came and attacked the people. Is this the kind of thugs we want to put in power? Is it thuggery they use for governance? Thuggery is a different form of governance."
We didn't sponsor attack- Akeredolu
An aide to Mr Akeredolu, however denied that he sponsored the attack, describing the candidate as a peaceful man who would not encourage violence in any form.
Mimiko wants fair policing
Meanwhile, the state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has appealed to police authorities to provide unbiased and fair policing to the electorates.
Governor Mimiko made the appeal while hosting the new Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 11, Mr Dan Bature, in his office, in Akure.
His words: "I want to appeal to you in the name of God to give adequate, fair and unbiased policing during the forthcoming governorship election in this state. If you do it, you will be happy about the outcome. We don't want bloodshed in our state and the only way to guarantee this is for the people to vote. One man, one vote."
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