Ondo poll: PDP Leader Lauds DIG As Police Begin Clampdown On Hoodlums

The police have started a clampdown on political thugs and other hoodlums in order to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order before , during and after the Saturday governorship election in Ondo State.

There have been bloody clashes between political thugs belonging to various parties up to Sunday morning when hoodlums suspected to have been sponsored by the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party engaged in a gun duel and a bloody clash which left many injured.

One of the campaign coordinators of the PDP in the state, Suffy Uguoji, earlier told our correspondent that a popular political thug known as Ade (surname witheld) and members of his gang had been terrorising known supporters of PDP and anybody who wore anything to identify them with the opposition party.

He later called back to commend the Deputy Inspector General of Police , Mr Leye Oyebade, for ordering his men to go after the hoodlums who had turned Odopetu Junction, Oba Adesida Road and other places in Akure, the state capital to a no-go area for members of the opposition parties.

Uguoji said, ” The police have started chasing those thugs who have been attacking PDP members. This is a good development. They have dislodged them and the area is free now.

” But I learnt that they may still want to come back there after the policemen might have left. I will advise that police detectives should be sent there to observe the situation.

” They know they can’t win the election and that is why they are using violence. They want to create fear in the minds of the people so that they will not come out to vote on Election Day “

It will be recalled that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, had also on Sunday appealed to security agencies to prevent political thugs from disrupting the election.

Makinde who is the Chairman, National Campaign Council of the PDP on Ondo Stage Governorship Election alleged that the APC was desperate to hold on to power in the state despite that the people had allegedly rejected them, saying this was why they were using violence.

The governor said security agencies should be neutral and deal with anybody who might want to cause violence or manipulate the poll.

But spokesman for the Akeredolu/Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation, Mr Richard Olatunde, blamed the PDP for the violence in the state.

He said the opposition party had engaged in harassment of APC supporters adding that a supporter of the ruling party was mercilessly beaten on Sunday night and they also started another violence on Sunday morning.

He said the PDP knew that the people of the state had long deserted the opposition party hence the use of violence.

Speaking on the Sunday clash, he said, “This latest recourse to attack and wanton violence by the PDP is the height of insensitivity, irresponsibility and indecency.

“It is obviously provocative. The thugs launched attacks on anyone seen with APC branded items like clothes and caps, as well as taxi drivers with Akeredolu stickers on their vehicles at Obanla in Akure and other areas.”