The inauguration of the campaign of the Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress at the Sky Power Ground, Oba Akinjobi Road, Ikeja, Lagos, was disrupted on Tuesday as hoodlums invaded the venue and engaged in a supremacy battle.
Many people sustained gunshots during the clash. Among the injured were the Group Political Editor of The Nation, Emmanuel Oladesu; a correspondent with New Telegraph, Temitope Ogunbanke; and a cameraman with Ibile Television, Abiodun Yusuf.
A leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers {NURTW), Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, was also stabbed during the clash.
The rally, which started around 12.30pm, ended abruptly as a result of the clash.
Continuous gunshots could be heard as the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, delivered his speech and called for support for the flag bearers of the party in the elections.
Amidst the noise, Ambode told the crowd that the police were in control of the situation.
However, things degenerated as the gunshots continued.
The governor was later escorted out of the venue and was joined by the Deputy Governor, Idiat Adebule, and the APC governorship candidate, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Sanwo-Olu was unable to present his speech. He hurriedly gave the closing remarks.
It was gathered that policemen later engaged the hoodlums in a gun battle, as people ran helter-skelter.
A reporter with the News Agency of Nigeria said some people were dispossessed of their phones, money and other valuables by pickpockets and other criminals.
A large number of party faithful were also reported to have trekked to their various homes due to the heavy vehicular traffic caused by the violence.
Workers with the Lagos State Ambulance Services reportedly conveyed no fewer than eight stabbed victims to a hospital.
The police spokesperson, CSP Chike Oti, confirmed the incident.
He said, “Two suspects have been arrested.”
He noted that the clash was started by a rival leader of the NURTW, who had been declared wanted by the command.
Oti said MC Oluomo was rushed to the EKO Hospital, Ikeja, where he was recuperating.
