Desmond Elliot, the Lagos State House of Assembly member who is contesting to be re-elected for a third term, has condemned the attack on the campaign team of his opponent, Olumide Oworu.
Olumide is the Labour Party’s candidate for the Lagos State House of Assembly, Surulere constituency.
On Thursday, March 16, Olumide tweeted that thugs invaded his campaign rally which held on Tuesday, March 14, at Iponri, Surulere.
He wrote, “My team and I were attacked on Tuesday as we attempted to campaign at Iponri, Surulere. A member of my team was injured, but we are thankful the incident didn’t escalate past the level it was. The case has been reported at the Iponri police station.
“I am not deterred by the incident. Instead, I am more committed to seeing this through. We will pass through the wards in constituency 1 (Akinhanmi/Cole, Adeniran/Ogunsanya, Iponri Housing Estate/Eric Moore, Igbaja/Stadium, Shitta/Ogunlana Drive, Yaba/Ojuelegba). See you outside!”
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the Tuesday attack, saying, “I can confirm that but I don’t have all the details yet.”
In a statement shared via his verified Facebook page, the All Progressives Congress candidate and incumbent Surulere Constituency Representative tagged Oworu’s attackers as “overzealous political jobbers masquerading as party supporters.”
Hours after actress Kemi Lala Akindoju called on Desmond to publicly condemn the attacks else his silence will mean he endorses the attack on Olumide Oworu, Elliot released a statement via his Facebook account.
It reads: “The attention of the Media Office of Hon. Olushola Desmond Elliott has been drawn to the senseless attack on the supporters of the Labour Party in Surulere by suspected thugs and overzealous political jobbers masquerading as party supporters.
“Honourable Elliot has reiterated at several fora in the build up to the general election that he would never be a party to any move that seeks to undermine the peaceful coexistence that we currently enjoy in Lagos State as citizens under the able leadership of His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“He condemns in strong terms violence in whatever guise and as a law abiding citizen, he has called on everyone,to allow reasons prevail and put their emotions under control in the interest of all Lagosians.
“Mr Elliot is peaceful and law abiding and has enjoined his teeming supporters to remain law abiding as well while urging them to come out in their numbers to vote all the candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC on Saturday.”
