Ex-Commissioner, Others Escape Death At LP Rally In Lagos

Some hoodlums reportedly attacked Labour Party supporters in the Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State on Saturday, March 11, 2023.

It was gathered that a former Commissioner under Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration, Hon. Olawale Oluwo, narrowly escaped unhurt when some unidentified hoodlums suspected to be political thugs reportedly shot at him during the campaign walk of the Labour Party Governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV).

Oluwo was the candidate of the Boot Party for the March 18th Governorship election but recently shelved his ambition and collapsed his structure for the Labour Party.

Due to the strong quest by the ruling party to retain the power seat in the state, speculations are that Ambode is backing GRV and has instructed his supporters to back the Labour Party candidate in the March 18 governorship election.

It could be recalled that Ambode was unceremoniously denied a second term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

Speaking on Saturday’s attack in a post on his Facebook page, Oluwo said the attack took place at the Ita Opo area of Lagos during the campaign procession of LP.

The former commissioner said despite the attack, the procession was successful.

He said, “This is to thank everyone for achieving a successful outing in Epe today, save for the actions of a few misguided elements, suspected to have been sponsored from the most unexpected quarters, to perpetrate tension and violence.

“Hon Noheem Balogun and I were shot at, point blank, today at Ita-Opo area of Epe while leading a very Campaign procession of the incoming Governor of Lagos State (by the special grace of God), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

“Gbadebo was present, being the overall team lead for the procession. Thank God the bullets missed the targets but my special gratitude goes to my Security Orderly, who promptly returned fire to repel the two assailants. A report is being lodged with the Police on the incident. Overall, we were well received by the good people of Epe in their large numbers. Hon Noheem Balogun is the PDP House of Reps Candidate for Epe Federal Constituency who has collapsed his large political structure in Epe into the Labour Party (LP).

“He has the support of the leaders, assembly candidates, relevant stakeholders and our teeming supporters to lead the political onslaught of LP in Epe in the capacity of a Generalissimo. This is already giving some people sleepless nights, hence the attack. I thank him for his commitment and leadership. Epe is my community and no person(s), no matter how powerful, can prevent us from exercising our rights to political participation,” he wrote.

Confirming the attack via his social media platform on Sunday morning, the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate, Rhodes-Vivour wrote: “Yesterday’s rally was great, we connected & saw supporters in Epe. We were attacked but we are all safe & secure. It’s a shame that some deem it fit to use violence to try & intimidate those who want a better Lagos & such actions have no place in Lagos. WE ARE not intimidated.”

Naija News understands that the state police command has not responded to the incident but a resident who reportedly spoke with Daily Trust, confirmed that there was a shooting at the Labour Party rally in Epe.

He, however, noted that normalcy has returned to the community.