Parts of Oyo State were gripped by violence on Saturday as suspected political thugs carried out coordinated attacks on local government congresses.
The targets were members of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The clashes resulted in numerous injuries and significant destruction of property.
In a related development that has further intensified internal party friction, hoodlums invaded the Ibadan home of former Deputy Governor Hazeem Gbolarumi.
While specific details of the assault are still emerging, insiders reported that the veteran politician and his staff only narrowly escaped harm during the raid.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as the attackers vandalized vehicles parked within the compound.
The violence was not isolated to a single location. Abdulrahman Akinoso, the Chairman of the Wike-aligned PDP faction in Oyo State, confirmed that the exercise was disrupted in several key areas.
During a telephone interview, he detailed the extent of the coordinated efforts to stop the congresses, stating:“Our local government congresses were attacked across Oyo State, including Ibadan North, Ogbomoso South, Igboora in Ibarapa Central and Akinyele.”
Akinoso further revealed the toll of the violence, noting that at least ten individuals were injured and multiple vehicles were destroyed.
Specifically, he mentioned that three cars were vandalized at “Gbolarumi House located on Are Avenue in the Bodija area of Ibadan,” which served as a central gathering point for his faction’s members.
These incidents underscore the deepening crisis within the Oyo State PDP, as competing factions continue to battle for dominance over the party’s local organizational structure.
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