Segun Oni, candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the June 18 Ekiti governorship election, escaped by whiskers, following an attack on his convoy. 

It was gathered that no fewer than five members of the SDP and supporters of Mr Oni were wounded during the attack. 

The attack, which occurred at itaji in the Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti, was carried out by armed thugs, suspected to be working for a rival political party in the state, ahead of the governorship poll.  

The Ekiti governorship election holds next week Saturday, June 18, with sixteen political parties already cleared by INEC for the exercise. 

A source, who hinted our reporter about the attack, said the SDP candidate, Mr Oni and his supporters, were at the palace of Onitaji of Itaji-Ekiti, Oba Adamo Idowu Babalola, when the thugs struck. 

Jackson Adebayo, campaign spokesperson for Mr Oni, who later confirmed the attack in an interview with Peoples Gazette, said the SDP candidate was to address all the monarchs in the Oye local council area at the Onitaji’s palace, when the thugs came in a vehicle. 

Mr Adebayo explained that the armed thugs aimed to also disrupt the political rally fixed for the town.  

He said the thugs, who were on a ‘killing mission’ were repelled by the combined team of the police and army after they had reined havoc. 

He explained, “We were at the palace of the Onitaji of Itaji-Ekiti when suddenly about 5 buses loaded with thugs stormed the venue in branded T-shirts. 

“The thugs were led by one Mantilo, who is also the local Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, in the area. 

“They were shooting sporadically and even aiming at our members and during the process, three members of the SDP were attacked and injured with a gunshot.

“As if that was not enough. We left that place and went to Iree town but while returning, they (thugs) were already at Oye town, where they open fire on us and shot two of our supporters again.

“As I speak, those injured are in hospital receiving treatment and Asiwaju Segun Oni had to even escape the attack by whiskers”, Mr Adebayo added.

The police command in Ekiti is yet to react to the attack.  

This is the second attack recorded this year against Mr Oni, a former governor of the state, who is desperately planning to succeed the incumbent, Kayode Fayemi. 

On April 6, suspected political thugs wielding guns had first attacked Oni and scores of his supporters, at Efon Alaaye, during a campaign rally.