Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Labour Party Governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has confirmed shots was fired during a campaign walk in Epe Local Government Area of the State on Saturday.
Writing on his verified Twitter handle on Sunday morning, he said “Yesterday’s rally was great, we connected & saw supporters in Epe. We were attacked but we are all safe & secure. It’s a shame that some deem it fit to use violence to try & intimidate those who want a better Lagos & such actions have no place in Lagos. WE ARE not intimidated.”
Similarly, a former Commissioner under the immediate past administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in Lagos, Hon. Olawale Oluwo, confirmed that he and some others escaped unhurt when they were reportedly shot at during the campaign walk.
Oluwo, the candidate of the Boot Party for the March 18th Governorship election, recently collapsed his structure for the LP.
Writing on his Facebook, Oluwo said the attack took place at Ita Opo area of Lagos during the campaign procession of LP.
He said despite the attack, the procession was successful.
He said, “This is to thank everyone for achieving a successful outing in Epe today, save for the actions of a few misguided elements, suspected to have been sponsored from the most unexpected quarters, to perpetrate tension and violence.
“Hon Noheem Balogun and I were shot at, point blank, today at Ita-Opo area of Epe while leading a very Campaign procession of the incoming Governor of Lagos State (by the special grace of God), Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
“Gbadebo was present, being the overall team lead for the procession. Thank God the bullets missed the targets but my special gratitude goes to my Security Orderly who promptly returned fire to repel the two assailants. A report is being lodged with the Police on the incident. Overall, we were well received by the good people of Epe in their large numbers. Hon Noheem Balogun is the PDP House of Reps Candidate for Epe Federal Constituency who has collapsed his large political st+ructure in Epe into the Labour Party (LP).
“He has the support of the leaders, assembly candidates, relevant stakeholders and our teeming supporters to lead the political onslaught of LP in Epe in the capacity of a Generalissimo. This is already giving some people sleepless nights, hence the attack. I thank him for his commitment and leadership. Epe is my community and no person(s), no matter how powerful, can prevent us from exercising our rights to political participation,” he wrote
Ambode fell out with newly elected President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu when he was denied a second term ticket in 2019. Unconfirmed sources said he is backing the LP candidate and may instructed his supporters to back GRV in the March 18 governorship election.
The attack has been confirmed by an indigene of Epe who also spoke with Daily Trust Newspaper correspondent in confidence, adding that normalcy has returned to the community.
