Nollywood actress and PDP deputy governorship candidate in Lagos State Funke Akindele was on Tuesday chased out of the Ikosi fruit market by suspected thugs during his campaign.
Speaking on the incident, PDP governorship candidate, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, in an interview with NAN, confirmed that he the campaign was cut short after that incident.
During a meeting with the Chief Imam of the Ketu Central Mosque, Jandor confirmed that a member of the security team was stabbed while others, including a journalist, were injured.
However, he insisted that the actress left the campaign train as the team continued to roam the streets of the council.
In October 2022, Jandor lamented over the same situation that has repeatedly occurred in various local government areas since he began his tour of the 245 wards.
PDP laughs
Lagos PDP spokesman, Hakeem Amode, in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES said the local government chairman sent hoodlums to disrupt the campaign.
He said: “Usually when we go to the market, Funke Akindele goes to the market to talk to the Market women, and we know that it is our right to speak freely, campaign for anyone.”
He said LCDA Chairman Ikosi- Abolanle Bada, brought thugs to intimidate him.
He said: “The head of the local government came to the market, used his car to block it and brought thugs to attack us in Kosofe local government, which is very sad; it is unbelievable, we are not allowed to talk to people freely.”
“According to the new electoral law, we are free to campaign anywhere; this is Lagos, where we should be able to talk to everyone without intimidation or discrimination. That should not happen,” he added.
He also claimed that this is not the first time this has happened.
More than hoodlums
Mr. Hakeem also said that intimidation has escalated to the point of harassment during the market campaign.
“Those who were given campaign materials, were kicked out of their homes and asked not to come to the market; they came crying to our campaign office. These are the market women who pay for the stalls they use in the market.
“Why do we have to come to the level of harassment and intimidation of our members? Even market women.”
Again, he said he was attacked in other markets.
Mr. Hakeem said the team had no choice but to withdraw and join Jandor, where he was campaigning, to prevent the situation from escalating.
PRO has once again claimed that LCDA Chairman Ikosi is responsible for the thugs on Tuesday, and he has a video to show.
APC response
When PREMIUM TIMES called the spokesman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos, Seye Oladejo, on the allegations, he denied knowledge of the event.
He said: “PDP people are known for their wild accusations; if people attack, I think the security agencies will be interested in; I don’t think the solution is to bring it to the media.
“As far as we are concerned, we are not in the business of violence; our party wants to win, so why should we be bothered by people who cannot manage their homes and want to be in government.
Mr. Oladejo claimed that the APC was under no pressure for the election and advised the party who claimed to have been attacked to take the matter to law.
ALSO READ: Lagos Governor: I will stop hooliganism, thugs if elected
The actress, popularly known as Jenifa, was officially announced as Jandor’s running mate in her hometown, Ikorodu, in July 2022.
Jandor chose him among five nominees, including Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, Kolawole Vaughan, Adenike Shobajo, and Rasheed Teslim-Balogun.
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