Attack on Fayose at Ondo rally deepens South West PDP crisis

The infighting in the South-West zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has festered and is taking its toll on the party ahead of tomorrow’s governorship election.

Stakeholders of the party are currently engaged in a war of words over attack on former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, at the grand finale of the party’s campaign in Ondo town on Wednesday.

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Daily Trust learnt that Fayose, while being ushered to the campaign podium, was attacked by a thug who removed his cap thereby creating a scene at the campaign ground.

At the time of the attack, the party’s candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, as well as the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus and some governors of the party were yet to arrive at the venue.

However, the running mate to Jegede, Gboluga Ikengboju, took to the podium to apologise to Fayose for the incident.

He said the PDP members in the state were not troublemakers but peacemakers.

After he was ushered into the venue amidst thunderous shout of ‘Osokomole!’ (his nickname) by the crowd, Fayose who addressed the rally said the incident happened “for good,” stating that he had no ill-feeling about it.

He also asked the aggrieved members of the party to bury their differences, unite and vote for the party’s candidate in the Saturday election.

But later, the video of the incident captured on Channels Television went viral on the social media prompting Fayose to react, pointing accusing fingers at the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde and former deputy national chairman of the party, Chief Bode George.

Speaking through his Media Aide, Lere Olayinka, the former governor said despite the shameful act, he won’t stop saying the truth concerning the running of the party in the Southwest zone.

But Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Taiwo Adisa said his principal had no hand in the incident.

“I believe that the ex-governor and his handlers need to look far away from Oyo State in search of their enemies,” Adisa said in response to the claim by Fayose.

Also, the Bode George camp reacted to Fayose’s statement, accused the ex-governor of “whipping up emotion about his encounter with some youths in Ondo State who allegedly removed his cap at the grand finale of the PDP rally.”

The chairman, PDP Democrats in Lagos State, Tajudeen Abinuwaiye, in a statement noted that Fayose openly apologized to all the people he had wronged right at the podium.