Some irate protesters, yesterday, attacked the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State, Mr. Cornelius Ojelabi, at the party’s Secretariat on Acme Road, in Ogba, during a peace parley to reconcile two warring factions in the Alimosho Local Government Area of the state.
A viral video of the attack showed where Ojelabi was tossed around by the placard-carrying protesters before security operatives were deployed to rescue him from the grip.
The aggrieved APC members accused the chairman of bias in the lingering crisis between two factional leaders in the Alimosho area, who are former Reps member, Mr Olufemi Adebanjo, popularly called ‘Eyes Open’; Bisi Yusuf and other another leader, Abudulahi Enilolobo.
Some interest groups had earlier charged Adebanjo to stop instigating crisis among party members in the area.
One of the warring factions alleged that: “We are in a democracy, Femi (Eyes Open) should allow peace to reign in Alimosho, he has benefited immensely through the same system he is now kicking against.”
The protesters from the BATCO and Mandate groups stormed the party secretariat as early as 8 am.
The protesters loyal to APC Yusuf and Adebanjo were said to have gone berserk when Ojelabi told them, “I do not recognise factions. I only recognise elected and appointed public officers.”
This infuriated the protesters who accused the party chairman of working for the other factional leader, Enilolobo.
Reacting to the crisis, the party, in a statement by its spokesman, Mr Seye Oladejo said: “Our attention has been drawn to the news going round about a purported protest rocking Lagos APC.
“As much as this sensational news might throw the opposition camp into premature celebration, the incident was a storm in a teacup.
“Since the resumption of office of the State Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, he has continuously sought the peaceful co-existence of all party members in every cradle and cranny of the state.
“It is on record that he has, at various times, been able to successfully reconcile warring party members across board to ensure cohesion.
“The incident today (yesterday) was about a meeting convened to reconcile the different factions of the party in Alimosho Local Government Area which was unfortunately infiltrated by uninvited thugs with ulterior motives.
“We appreciate the security agencies for promptly bringing the situation under control.”
