A peace meeting put together by the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alimosho Local Government Area over the House of Representatives primaries in Lagos has turned violent after suspected political thugs allegedly attacked and inflicted machete injuries on Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe.
Ajigbotafe,
popularly known in political circles as “AB Ajigbotafe,” who sustained deep
injuries was quickly rushed to hospital for treatment.
It was
gathered that the commissioner was attacked during a tension soaked APC
stakeholders’ meeting convened to resolve the controversial result from the
party’s House of Representatives primary election in Lagos West.
Sources
disclosed that the crisis was linked to tensions generated
during Saturday’s primaries involving supporters of former Mosan-Okunola
Local Council Development Area chairman, Olabisi Adebajo, also known as ABISCO,
and incumbent lawmaker, Ganiyu Ayuba.
The
primary election was said to have turned chaotic after armed thugs allegedly
invaded the venue wielding dangerous weapons, causing panic among party members
and triggering sporadic gunfire.
Party
insiders alleged that Ajigbotafe was associated with one of the rival political
factions, a development believed to have heightened hostilities ahead of
Monday’s reconciliation meeting.
The
peace meeting, however, reportedly degenerated into violence after suspected
loyalists of influential political figures allegedly attacked the commissioner
with machetes in what witnesses described as an attempted assassination.
“The
assassination attempt on the Honourable Commissioner was unsuccessful; however,
he sustained serious injuries, his vehicle was damaged, and security personnel
were severely wounded,” a party member stated in a message circulated among APC
stakeholders.
Sources
further disclosed that the commissioner lost a large quantity of blood and
underwent multiple blood transfusions as medical personnel worked to stabilise
his condition.
The
incident has reportedly unsettled the Lagos APC, particularly in Alimosho,
regarded as one of the party’s strongest political bases in the state.
The
attack also triggered outrage among party members and stakeholders, many of
whom condemned the increasing level of violence, intimidation, and political
hooliganism within local party structures.
In a
statement addressed to APC leaders in Alimosho, a concerned party member and
Certified Protection Officer, Debo Awosheye, described the incident as
disturbing and damaging to the party’s image.
“These
incidents are unacceptable and capable of damaging the unity, reputation, and
democratic values of our party,” he said.
“No
political ambition or disagreement should ever justify violence, intimidation,
harassment, or threats against party members.”
Awosheye
warned that failure to urgently address the crisis could worsen internal
divisions and negatively affect the party’s reputation ahead of future
elections.
Another
APC member, who reacted to the incident, described the attack as barbaric and
called for immediate intervention by party leaders.
“How
can you fight a sitting commissioner publicly and injure him to the point of
blood flow? This is not acceptable,” the member said.
Recall
that Lagos Today Extra” reported that the Lagos State police command apprehended
10 suspects over the violence that erupted at the All Progressives
Congress primaries election at Egbe in the Alimosho area of the state.
The
incident, which occurred on Onilewura Street, Liasu Road, on Saturday, caused
panic among party members and residents as hoodlums stormed the venue ,shooting
sporadically.
The
incident disrupted the process, forcing voters and party officials
to flee for safety.
Several
party members sustained varying degrees of injuries in the incident.
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