Kwara APC Crisis: Scores allegedly injured, hospitalised as Lola Ashiru, Saheed Popoola supporters clash in Offa

…those involved, not my loyalists – Lawmaker

…PDP condemns attack

By Mumini AbdulKareem

The crisis rocking the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took another dimension on Sunday as supporters of Lola Ashiru and Saheed Popoola reportedly clashed during a ward meeting in Offa leaving scores of party members injured and hospitalised.

Ashiru and Popoola who are the Kwara South Senatorial and House of Assembly candidates of the APC, both hail from Offa.

Some of the victims who sustained varying degrees of injury were rushed to the General Hospital, Offa, where they are currently recuperating.

Trouble reportedly broke out during a meeting during a ward meeting at Ojomu Central B over who controls the APC machinery in the community between Ashiru and Popoola.

A source in Offa who confirmed the development last night said the fracas which involved the use of machete, bottles and other dangerous weapons left the community in sorrow.

Although no life was lost during the incident that reportedly lasted over an hour, many of the victims that included passers-by sustained serious injuries and deep cut with blood littering the venue of the clash.

There were several online reports regarding the incident accusing the supporters of the two party stalwarts and possibility of reprisal attack between the two factions if the situation is left unattended.

But a source told our reporter that the secretary of the party who is a loyalist of Ashiru in the ward whose name could be ascertained last night was accused of engaging in anti-party having pasted the posters of another political party in the community.

The action reportedly angered the supporters of Popoola who called for his suspension to pave way for the emergence of his deputy, who is a loyalist of the lawmaker.

But the issue however reportedly degenerated to a fracas that left many at the meeting with serious injuries.

Attempts to speak with the Police Public Relationship Officer (PRO), DSP Ajayi Okasanmi on the matter last night were not successful as several calls to his line were not answered.

Reply to a text message sent to him was still being expected last night.

But Popoola who confirmed the incident yesterday however denied that those that engaged in the brawl were neither his faction nor those loyal to Ashiru.

Popoola added that he remain a political son of Ashiru and the senatorial candidate his political leader.

He said, “It’s untrue that my supporters and that of Lola Ahiru engaged in any form of fighting or violent clash. The issue is not about my faction or that of Lola Ashiru.

“Even that day Sunday, I was in Lola Ashiru’s house and we were holding series of meetings moving together from one local government to the other. What happened was just a misunderstanding between party members. We are all APC members and of the same party.

“Yes some people got injured and such usually happens when there is a fracas. But what I want to disprove is that the fight was between Lola Ashiru and Saheed Popoola’s faction, no. I am Lola Ashiru’s boy and remain his boy and he remain our leader as far as the community is concerned”, he added.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has condemned the violent attack in Offa.

In a statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Tunde Ashaolu, the PDP called on security agencies in the state to conduct investigation into the matter and arrest the culprits.

“This is important to forestall breakdown of law and order as some of the political thugs are reported to be planning to launch another attack, which could affect innocent people of Offa.

“This latest attack further exposes the violent tendencies of the APC in Kwara, which we have always alerted security agencies and the general public to.

“As a peace-loving party, we frown at any action capable of causing civil unrest in any part of the state. This is why we are concerned about the recent waves of violent attacks being perpetrated by APC thugs.  We, therefore, call on politicians in the APC to call their boys to order.

“Kwara has always been known as a state of peace and harmony  – we cannot afford to lose our harmony and peaceful coexistence now or in the future. Kwarans must, therefore, reject violent and desperate politicians seeking to grab power by any means possible.”