APC thugs chase Funke Akindele out of market in escalating violence
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Thugs invaded the hustings of Funke Akindele at Ikosi fruit market in Lagos on Wednesday and chased out the Nollywood actress and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deputy governorship candidate, in another escalation of political violence.
Police say Lagos is the most peaceful state in Nigeria. But this is the latest in the spate of attacks against political opponents in the fiefdom of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Tinubu.
PDP governorship candidate Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has on occasions lamented attacks against his convoy by APC thugs.
The Labour Party (LP) has reported its posters being destroyed by APC hirelings and that landlord refuse to rent their properties to the LP in fear of hoodlums burning down the buildings to protect Tinubu’s grip on Nigeria’s richest state.
Akindele, popularly known as Jenifa, was with her team to campaign before the producers and buyers of goods and services in the market in Kosofe Council.
Jandor confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the campaign was cut short by the miscreants.
He also disclosed at a meeting with the chief imam of Ketu Central Mosque that a member of his security team was stabbed and others, including journalists, were injured.
He said Akindele left the campaign train while the team continued to move around the streets in the council.
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Related articles:
Lagos PDP gov candidate, Jandor, accuses APC of using thugs to attack his convoy
Tambuwal alleges APC masterminds ‘fake news’, hires thugs for fracas at PDP rallies
Utomi urges INEC to investigate alleged withholding of PVCs in Lagos
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PDP accuses APC of hiring thugs to scuttle campaign
Lagos PDP spokesman Hakeem Amode alleged Ikosi Local Council Development Aread (LCDA) Chairperson Abolanle Bada, a member of the APC, sent thugs to scuttle the campaign, per reporting by Vanguard.
“Usually when we go to the market, Funke Akindele goes to the market to speak with the market women, and we know it is our right to be able to talk freely, a campaign to anybody,” Amode said.
“The local government chairperson came to the market, used her car to block the road and brought a bunch of thugs to attack us in Kosofe local government, which is very, very sad; it is unbelievable we are not allowed to speak to people freely.
“Under the new Electoral Act, we are free to campaign anywhere. This is Lagos, where we should be able to talk to everybody without intimidation or discrimination. That should not even happen.”
APC denies allegation
Lagos APC spokesman Seye Oladejo denied the allegation by the usual tactics of gaslighting the complainant and the public and failing to admit the complaint, let alone address it.
“The PDP people are well known for their wild allegations; if people were attacked, I think it is what the security agencies would be interested in. I don’t think the solution is to take it to the media,” he said.
“As far as we are concerned, we are not in the business of violence. Our party is going for victory, so why should we be distracted by people who cannot even put their house in order and want to come into government?”
