Tajudeen Adefisoye, the federal lawmaker, says he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Ondo on Monday. 

Mr Adefisoye, representing the Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency of Ondo at the National Assembly, revealed the attack occurred in his hometown of Idanre while returning from a political function. 

Mr Adefisoye accused Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of sponsoring the attackers.

The lawmaker, seeking reelection, specifically accused his main opponent in the race, PDP’s Festus Akingbaso, of masterminding the attack, revealing that he had petitioned the Brigade Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigeria Army, in Akure, following the attack. 

“The assailants were hired by the PDP candidate (Mr Akingbaso) for the House of Representatives. They shot directly at my vehicle but I thank God I was able to escape and have reported the case to the police and the Nigeria Army for investigation,” Mr Adefisoye said in a statement. 

However, Mr Akingbaso denied the allegations.

In a statement issued by his campaign organisation, the PDP candidate described the allegation as unfounded.

“We categorically assert that we have no involvement in this incident and the mention of our campaign team in this unfortunate incident is nothing but a deliberate attempt to smear our good name in the mud, one which we shall continue to protect at all cost,” said Mr Akingbaso in the statement issued by his campaign team. 

The statement added, “This latest development is another obvious attempt by the accusers to evade the scrutiny of the police and DSS, who are currently investigating him (Adefisoye) and his team for violence which occurred a few days ago in which many members of the PDP were attacked and injured.” 

A police spokeswoman in Ondo, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, confirmed the attack, saying an investigation has begun.