Some hoodlums believed to be political thugs, on Monday, beat the Ogun State House of Assembly candidate of the African Action Congress from Ijebu-Ode, Tanimowo Oyemade, to a pulp.
The candidate was said to have incurred the wrath of the political thugs for pasting posters at Oke-Aje market near Epe garage in Ijebu-Ode and his refusal to give them the money they demanded.
Oyemade was said to have been rushed to a nearby hospital following the beating where he was given medical attention.
Speaking on the incident, the state chairman of the party, Adesina Afolabi, described the incident as unfortunate.
He accused the candidate of the ruling party of masterminding the beating.
He said, “the party in the state was shocked to receive the news of the beating of one of its candidates, Tanimowo Oyemade, by APC thugs in Ijebu-Ode.
“They beat him because he was contesting against the party and tore his clothes.
“We have reported the matter to the police and the police have assured us that we will get justice.”
Also speaking from his hospital bed, Oyemade said he was not expecting the thugs to attack him because of politics.
He said “I was called by one of my friends who helped me paste some posters in Ijebu-Ode. He said some people were challenging him for pasting posters.
“When I got there, I thought it was a situation I could handle. They said I was pasting posters without giving them money and before I could respond, they started beating me, tore my clothes and inflicted injury on me.
“I was taken to the hospital where I am being treated. In fact, as I am talking to you I am holding a police report I just wrote on the incident.”
When asked to identify his attackers, Oyemade claimed that the thugs were wearing APC-inscribed shirts with face caps with an inscription of the party’s (APC) name and logo.
He said, “they are APC thugs. They wore APC face caps and shirts with the APC logo.
“They said I was disturbing their leaders by contesting. They held my hands and started beating me with various weapons like sticks and others.
“I am writhing in pain as I am talking to you.”
Attempt to get the reaction of the candidate of the APC from Ijebu-Ode, Bakre Olanrewaju, proved abortive as she could not be reached at the time of filing this report.
