The Atiku Campaign Organisation in Ondo State has accused the All Progressives Congress in the state of sponsoring thugs to attack its office.
The office, located at Ijapo area of Akure, the state capital was on Wednesday attacked by hoodlums who destroyed the billboards and posters of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
The organisation, in a statement by its spokesman, Kayode Fasua, called on security agents to bring the perpetrators to book.
Fasua alleged that the hoodlums beat up the security guard at the office during the midnight attack, adding that Atiku’s supporters in the state had on many occasions been assaulted.
He said, “They arrived in the wee hours of the day, at a time the security guards in the Ijapo, Akure area of our office would have closed from duty and descended on our campaign office.
“Numbering about 10, and fully armed, they descended on our private security guard, beat him to a pulp and then tied him with ropes. After that, they proceeded by dismantling Atiku’s billboards, and then tearing all his posters.
“Not done, these agents of the devil went ahead to break window panes and kept shouting ‘where are those documents, where are those documents!’ But having failed in their evil deed, they retreated, shooting sporadically.”
The organisation’s Director-General in the state, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), described the attack as “barbaric and alien to the spirit of democracy that the Nigerian society should embrace in a fast-advancing world.”
He also demanded that the perpetrators be brought to book.
However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Femi Joseph, said the command was unaware of the incident.
“There was no report of such an incident at the police station,” he said.
The state chairman of APC, Ade Adetimehin, also denied the involvement of the ruling party in the incident.
“We are not aware of the incident. If it truly occurred, our members cannot be involved.
“We are peace-loving, law-abiding political party. We don’t involve in thuggery or violence. I will implore security agents to investigate the matter and fish out the perpetrators,” he said.