A group of hoodlums attacked some All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains in Efon Alaaye, Efon Local Government Area of Ekiti State, on Monday evening, leaving four persons injured.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the attack, which took place in front of the family house of one of the victims, Mr Olaitan Olayinka, was allegedly carried out by a group of political thugs loyal to a political leader in the area.
Olayinka, who is also interested in contesting for the chairmanship of Efon Local Government Area in the forthcoming elections, said the attack was a deliberate attempt to silence him and other aspirants.
He said the hoodlums had earlier attacked one of his supporters on July 31, 2023, during a masquerade event in Efon and that they returned on Monday to attack him and his family members.
He said, “I am a retired civil servant. I am also interested in contesting as Chairman of the Efon Local Government area. But the political leader, with the use of a group of political thugs, attacked us.
“They are saying they don’t want any other aspirant to contest against a preferred aspirant, but I maintained my ground that I will contest and win.
“On July 31, 2023, during a masquerade event in Efon, the thugs had wanted to forcibly remove one of my customised caps from one of my supporters. When he refused to surrender it, the hoodlums descended on him, beat him up and tore his clothes.”
Olayinka said four persons were injured in the attack, with the assailants smashing cartons of beer bottles in his shop.
He added that it took the intervention of military personnel to restore peace and order and has called on Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to intervene and save his family members and the party from further attacks.
