EKITI 2018: APC suspends campaign as police arrests one over shooting

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has suspended its governorship campaign earlier scheduled to begin on Monday.

The suspension came as the state police command released the report of Friday’s shooting incident at the APC reception organised for Kayode Fayemi, its flagbearer in the July 14 governorship election.

Jide Awe, chairman of the party in the state, told journalists in Ado-Ekiti that the postponement was due to the shooting incident.

According to Awe, the suspension will remain in place until the police can guarantee the safety of its gubernatorial candidate and other members of the party.

He insisted that Friday’s shooting was an attempt to take the life of Fayemi with the bullet that accidentally hit party chieftain, Opeyemi Bamidele.

Awe demanded a thorough investigation of the matter by the police, saying the outcome of the report must be made public.

The police command in its situation report released on Saturday by Caleb Chukwuemeka, its public relations officer, said findings revealed that what happened was a case of accidental discharge on the part of a mobile police officer.

The force said, “On Friday, 1st June, 2018, at about 1700 hours, the policeman accidentally shot Opeyemi Bamidele and one other, but he has been arrested.

“He is attached to 20 PMF, Ikeja, Lagos State, where he was posted on bank guard duties somewhere in Ikeja. The policeman came on illegal duty to Ekiti State.

“A politician, who conspired and removed the said policeman from where he was posted by his Squadron Commander and came to Ado Ekiti with him for an unofficial reason has also been arrested.

“The victims of his accidental discharge are currently responding to treatment at the hospital, while the injured policeman is equally responding to treatment in protective custody.”

Meanwhile, the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, who was part of the disrupted rally, has said that he had nothing to do with the shooting.

The Ondo governor was responding to allegations made by the campaign organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) linking him with the shooting.

Akeredolu had ridden with Fayemi from the Akure Airport to Ado Ekiti and was at the scene where the shooting occurred.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Segun Ajiboye, said none of his security aides fired a shot at the scene as being alleged.

The statement said the allegations by the PDP campaign were malicious, as the governor was only in Ekiti to give support to Fayemi.

Read also: PDP apportions blame over police shooting of Bamidele, 5 others

“Governor Akeredolu knew nothing about the identity of the suspect. It is nothing but a wicked lie from the pit of hell,” the statement said.

“Governor Akeredolu was in Ekiti State to show support for the APC and its candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and none of the governor’s security detail fired a single shot throughout the rally in Ekiti.

“Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Police PPRO, Caleb Ikechukwu , has disclosed that the policeman who handled the rifle was hired from Lagos. We hope this will put to rest dangerous allegation.”

The PDP campaign organisation had earlier claimed that Akeredolu was mobilising thugs and funds to Ekiti State to help win the election for Fayemi.

The statement denied the allegations that the governor was setting aside funds for the Ekiti election.

“Once again, we condemn the incident that occurred in Ado Ekiti and sympathize with the victims and their family. We also sympathize with the APC family in Ekiti and the nation in general,” the statement further said.

“Governor Akeredolu is a man peace who is known to have devoted unrelenting efforts at sustaining peace in his state.

“We are, however, relieved with the news of the arrest of perpetrator by the police.”

 

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