The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has called on security agencies to investigate an alleged attack on the campaign team of the Accord governorship candidate, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, in Ibadan.
The party said the incident, which reportedly occurred in the Molete area of the state capital on Wednesday, left several supporters of the Accord candidate critically injured.
In a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Wednesday, the Oyo APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, condemned the alleged attack and urged the police and other security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation.
According to reports cited by the party, suspected members of the Park Management System (PMS) allegedly attacked occupants of vehicles conveying Accord supporters during a street campaign around noon.
The attackers were said to have wielded dangerous weapons, inflicting varying degrees of injuries on some of the campaigners.
The APC also accused Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration of creating an atmosphere conducive to political intimidation, alleging that PMS officials had been directed to ensure that commercial motorists displayed only campaign materials belonging to candidates of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The party, however, did not provide independent evidence to substantiate the allegations against the governor or the PMS officials.
Sadare recalled that APC members had allegedly been attacked at three different locations in Ibadan the previous week.
He also accused suspected political opponents of being responsible for the vandalism and destruction of campaign billboards, posters and other campaign materials belonging to opposition candidates in the state.
“The attack on Accord campaign train happened in broad daylight and some of the residents could identify the culprits, but we do not want to preempt the positive outcome of an objective and thorough investigation expected from the police and other security agencies,” the statement said.
The APC urged residents to remain calm and vigilant, calling on security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible for the alleged attack.
The party further alleged that the same political interests compelling commercial motorists to participate in APM campaign activities were responsible for sponsoring attacks against opposition parties in the state.
It maintained that political violence had no place in a democratic society, warning against attempts to intimidate opposition members.
The party also recalled that the administration of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi had taken steps to move the state away from political violence, expressing concern that the current political atmosphere could undermine those gains.
It urged the state government and security agencies to take urgent measures to prevent further violence as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.