Three people were shot after armed supporters of two factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday, clashed in Ekiti.
Seven people have been arrested in connection with the clash which began last Friday between supporters of Opeyemi Bamidele, representative of Ekiti Federal Constituency at the National Assembly and Dipo Akinwumi, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in the state.
Mr. Bamidele, who also belongs to the APC, is nursing a governorship ambition in the 2014 election.
Both groups had earlier clashed on Friday at the burial ceremony of Felicia Akinwumi, mother of Mr. Akinwumi.
The offices of both Messrs Bamidele and Akinwumi were vandalized in the ensuing violence which also left several people injured.
Mr. Bamidele, however, blamed the violence on the supporters of Kayode Fayemi, the Ekiti State governor, allegedly led by Deji Adesokan, Special Assistant on Internal Security to Mr. Fayemi.
In a statement on Monday, Mr. Bamidele described the “war” from the state governor’s camp as an attempt to break the “unflinching solidarity and support” of his supporters.
The statement signed by Ahmed Salami, Mr. Bamidele’s Media Assistant, identified the three people that were shot at Iyin-Ekiti as Ola Fatokun (shot in the hand); Rasaki Bello (shot in the stomach); and Ige Adeola, (shot in the back).
It further stated that Monday’s violence was a continuation of last Friday’s havoc caused by Mr. Adesokan (popularly known as Jarule) and Tajudeen Awe, another aide to the governor.
Efforts to reach Olayinka Oyebode, Mr. Fayemi’s Chief Press Secretary, were not successful. Phone calls and text messages were unanswered.
Mr. Bamidele’s statement accused the governor’s men of invading Iyin Ekiti, on Friday, with a detachment of thugs, coordinated by one Niyi Adedipe, and brandishing weapons.
“More than ten people were wounded with a total of six cars destroyed in a Gestapo like operation by the anti-people’s army obviously being funded under the command of Deji Adesokan and Major Tajudeen Awe,” Mr. Bamidele said.
“In a most daring manner, the Jarule and Awe led terror machine moved from Iyin Ekiti straight to Honourable Michael Opeyemi Bamidele’s campaign office in Ado Ekiti and completely vandalized the office causing inestimable damages.
“It is unbelievable that such an act of terror can be happening in broad day light at a time that the nation is enforcing a state of emergency to stem the perpetration of terrorism and guarantee the security of lives and property in some other parts of the country,” he added.
While calling on Mr. Fayemi to call his men to order, Mr. Bamidele said that the “extra-judicial attacks and bloodsheds” would not deter him from the 2014 governorship race.
“We are determined by grace of God to run a decent, issue based, people friendly and scientific campaign that would clearly show that we have the maturity, the cognate experience, courage, divine favour and strength of character that is needed to fill the leadership vacuum and rally all stakeholders together to move Ekiti forward,” Mr. Bamidele said.