The candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, for Ifedore/Idanre Federal Constituency, Alhaji Tajudeen Adefisoye, better known as “Small Alhaji” has accused the current House of Representatives member for the constituency, Hon. Bamidele Baderinwa of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who is also seeking re-election, of masterminding the attack on his campaign trail at Ipogun town in Ifedore local government area of Ondo State.
Recall that on the 7th of February, the campaign trail of Adefisoye was reportedly attacked while on campaign tour.
The attack left one person dead, who was identified as Benjamin Falusi, as well injured two others who are still recuperating in hospital, while the SDP candidate was said to have escaped death by the whiskers.
At a press conference in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Adefisoye claimed that the hoodlums, who lay siege to his campaign trail, are suspected to be working for the APC candidate in order to frustrate his chances of winning the February 16th constituency election being the most popular candidate in the area.
“I am the most popular candidate in Ifedore/Idanre federal constituency. As you are aware, few weeks ago, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo came to Idanre, during his visit, the incumbent rep member, Baderinwa was beaten by the youths who accused him of poor representation at the lower chamber.
“So what happened now was a reprisal attack by his supporters because those who attacked my convoy were putting on APC caps. So my number one suspect is no other person but the incumbent rep member for the attack.”
Giving further details on how attack was launched on him, he said that, “Before the ugly incident, we were at Ikota, Ero, Ilara, Igbara-Oke, all in same Ifedore local government area, but on getting to Ipogun, we started hearing gunshots and I saw my party members running for safety.
“I turned my car and went straight to Ilara-Mokin Police station to make a formal report of the ugly incident. From there, the DPO and I moved straight to the police area command before coming down to the state headquarters here in Akure.
“I was never arrested nor detained by the police as being spread by our opponents. SDP remains the most popular party in the federal constituency today.”
He also denied reports that Kayode Falusi was shot dead by a policeman in his convoy.
“As a philanthropist who had given scholarship to over 100 students in Ifedore alone, how would I be angry when I see young guys asking money or favour from me? The attack was sponsored by those who think I am a threat to their aspirations.
“There is also this rumour that it was one of the policeman in my convoy that killed the late Kayode which is totally untrue. They have done the autopsy and it was a local bullet that was found in his body. I hereby use this medium to publicly commiserate with the family of the deceased, the people of Ipogun and Ifedore local government at large,” he ended.
Meanwhile, the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alex Kalejaye, maintained that police escorts within the convoy of Adefisoye shot the deceased in the SDP campaign trail, as they opened fire on youths in the community.
Similarly, the state Chairman of the party, Chief Korede Duyile, has commiserated with the family of the decease, describing the incident as unfortunate incident.
He emphasised that SDP is a party of peace that has always adhered to principle.
“We are peaceful persons in SDP, we don’t condole violence in our part at all.
“The incident was not organized by our party. What people are spreading around was not true at all, it was just mere rumour,” he said.
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