Pandemonium as hoodlums frustrate LP, ADC defection event in Lagos

By Adekunle Williams

There was pandemonium in in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos on Saturday as members Labour Party (LP) battled with hoodlums as who attempted to frustrate their defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) .

The large number of hoodlums had stormed the first venue of the event at the LP office in Idimu, welding different kinds of weapons, including knives and canes, and beating anyone they caught while the mayhem lasted.

The party members and officials were thus forced to flee and abandon the event organised by the parties to officially mark the defection of LP members in Alimosho into ADC.

Some of the fleeing party members reportedly sustained varying degrees of injuries

Some of the hoodlums were reportedly shouting that LP-ADC are not welcomed in Lagos state.

However, determined to carry on with the event, officials of the two parties, swiftly arranged for an alternative venue at the Eco Centre Event in Egbeda area of Lagos.

Recounting their ordeal, the LP chairman in Alimosho, Mr Olaranwaju Olushola, popularly known as Heritage in Lagos, described the attack on his members as unwarranted.

He expressed fear that most Nigerians might not be free to express themselves in the build up to the 2027 General Elections.

‘What is most painful is that most of my members sustained varying degrees of wound. This is in spite of the hoodlums going into our party secretariat in Alimosho, destroying our furniture and flags.”

The Alimosho Labour Party chairman, however, said that the members had already defected en mass to ADC, noting that what was planned for today was not the official defection, but a ceremony to let Nigerians know that they have moved.

He added that almost the entire members of LP in Alimosho, including its leadership had joined the ADC and that the decision was collective.

Also speaking, the party’s Secretary in Alimosho, Mr Moses Akujuobi, along other members explained that plans for the open ceremony of their defection was already stopped by the police on grounds that they did not get approval.

He said they had earlier contacted the Area M Commander, ACP Abaniwonda, who said that she did not have the power to give approval for political events in the state, adding that it is only the Commissioner of Police (CP) that could give such approval.

“Incidentally, we could not reach the CP but we informed the DSS after which we went ahead since it wasn’t a rally but a quiet ceremony.

” When we got to the venue this morning, we were shocked to see police vans with heavily armed police men. They informed us that we cannot hold the event and referred us to the police commissioner.

“While we were at it, the hoodlums, beseeched the place and began to beat people, leading to our deserting the venue.

” We, however, began to contact our members through phones to move to the second venue, which is the Eco Event centre and everyone witnessed what took place here.

” The hoodlums got wind of our second venue and equally attacked us, beating up our members again.”

The secretary said their decision to join ADC was informed by leadership issues in the LP and lingering litigations.

Howeever, heavily armed policemen in vans came to the second venue shortly after the hoodlums, who came in with several cars had left.

A policeman said the team came as soon as they heard what was going on at the Eco Event Centre.

The policeman said that conversations with people around gave them an idea of what transpired but they were grateful that no live was lost and no one was seriously injured.

(NAN)