One of the party members injured by the hoodlums

Adejoke Adeleye, Abeokuta

Some hoodlums, believed to be political thugs in Ogun state at the weekend disrupted the campaign of the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Otunba Rotimi Paseda.

It was reported that the governorship candidate was addressing his supporters at the campaign venue in Ijebu Ode when some the thugs  invaded the venue and started shooting into the air.

The fracas which lasted for about 10 minutes saw party faithful and onlookers scampering for safety.

The situation became uncontrollable when the guards at the event prevented the thugs from taking over the stage, a development which led to sporadic shooting into the air by the thugs.

Gift items such as gas cooker, sewing machine, hair dryer, refrigerator brought to the venue for empowerment were taken away by the thugs.

The ugly development brought the campaign programme to an abrupt end.

In reaction Paseda said that, the attack was premeditated by an unnamed opposition candidate.

He noted that he has never been attacked before, saying the latest developments proved that he has become a threat with his growing popularity to opposition parties in the state.

He however, commended the Nigeria Police attached to Ijebu Ode for responding swiftly to dispersed the thugs without any record of death but some injured.

His words, “In my state most especially my senatorial districts we have never been attack before, we are very peaceful, I only associate with peace.

“I think we started the campaign very fine until we saw a set of people who are not our party members. We try to manage and calm them but they are shouting opposition slogans and the way it was done I think it was a coup plan because I’ve never see that before attacking our campaign.

“We have permission to the campaign at that spot and the police, TRACE, Vigilante and Civil Defence officers were on ground, but I thank God nobody died.

“I think we need to commend the Police because they have really step up their game by bringing the situation under control and ensure everybody’s safety.

“I will personally lodge a complain to the Commissioner of Police on Monday to ensure tight security at our campaign ground to ensure safety of our members and the electorate, ” he assured.