The flag-off of Lagos State chapter of All Progressives Congress on Tuesday was marred by violence, but the party assured Lagosians that such would not repeat itself again.
The party in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, blamed the unfortunate incident on a disagreement between two factions of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, which they carried into the campaign grounds of the party.
Igbokwe insisted that the APC and its supporters had no hand in the violence.
The statement read: “History was again recorded in Ikeja today (yesterday) as Lagos APC opens its 2019 general election campaigns that clearly and eloquently sent signals out there that the owner of the house is still at home. The organisation, the crowd, the colours, the joy and fun added beauty and class to the carnival which was unprecedented in the history of Lagos politics.
“We only have our teeming supporters and the leadership of the party in the state to thank for displaying absolute trust, loyalty, commitment and affection for the party they have cherished for years and still continue to cherish till date.
“His Excellency and our own Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was on ground to boost the morale of the party and the candidates. “We all witnessed an electrifying moment as the governor and the candidates drove in together to the venue. Some 63 chairmen of other political parties in the State added beauty and glamour to the great event by coming out en mass to endorse the candidates of APC, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat.
“However we regret that towards the end of the rally two factions of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) engaged themselves in a brawl that led to some people sustaining various injuries. We deeply regret this ugly and unacceptable rude behaviour with a firm promise that such an incident will not repeat itself again in the cause of the campaign.”
Recall that a factional leader of the NURTW, Mc Oluomo, also said to be a right-hand man of former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was stabbed in the neck while many others sustained various injuries in the violence that occurred during the APC rally.
