There was tension on Monday in Omuo-Ekiti, Kota-Ekiti and other communities in Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State following a bloody clash between supporters of Governor Ayo Fayose and those of the Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Biodun Olujimi, The Nation is reporting.
Scores of people were said to have been wounded at a meeting of Peoples Democratic Party members in the area on on Sunday.
The meeting, held at Kota-Ekiti, was said to have been attended by members from both factions.
The House of Assembly member representing Ekiti East Constituency II, Dare Pelemo, who is a loyalist of Fayose, was said to have been among the wounded.
A source told The Nation many of the victims of the attack are receiving treatment at undisclosed hospitals in Omuo and Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
Residents scampered to safety and stayed away until the dust of the clash cleared.
Fayose and Olujimi are locked in a cold war over the latter’s governorship ambition.
The governor allegedly warned Olujimi to drop her governorship ambition but the senator reportedly rebuffed him.
The crisis reached a crescendo two weeks ago when two House of Assembly members – Michael Adeojo (Ekiti Southwest II) and Ojo Ade Fajana (Ekiti East 1) – were investigated for their alleged loyalty and closeness to Olujimi.
A source said the clash erupted over alleged plan to take control of the meeting by one of the factions, which snowballed into physical combat in which missiles were hurled on both sides.
Assembly member Pelemo, the source said, had his clothes torn by Olujimi’s supporters, who mobilised to attack him for “attempting to advance Fayose’s interest” at the meeting.
The source said: “The meeting ended in disarray as the team loyal to Senator Olujimi and team loyal to Governor Fayose exchanged fisticuffs.
“The House of Assembly member representing Ekiti East Constituency II, Pelemo, was beaten up, while other members of the team loyal to Governor Fayose ran for their lives.”
Lawmaker, others injured as supporters of Governor, Senator clash
