Reports indicate that it was a narrow escape for Dr Idia Ize-Iyamu, the wife of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming election in Edo state.
Dr Idia was said to have been attacked in Jattu, Estako West local government area of state and close to the hometown of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
The attack was allegedly linked to thugs said to belong to the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate in the same election, Philip Shuaibu.
She, however, escaped unhurt, according to a statement by the party and reported by Vanguard.
The statement signed in Benin, the state capital, by the publicity secretary of the PDP, Mr Chris Nehikhare, said the incident happened at Jattu market when the PDP women were campaigning from shop to shop educating the people on the contents of the PDP manifesto and how they should vote during the election.
The statement said as the traders were getting excited, the infuriated thugs allegedly led by Philip Shuaibu, destroyed several cars in Dr Idia’s convoy leading to violence in the market with market women burning any broom in sight.
Another car reported to have been attacked by thugs during the campaign
But in his reaction, Philip Shaibu denied involvement in the act.
He said he was not known to have a history of violence as Ize Iyamu has come to be known with.
He said: “Ize Iyamu, in 1984 was expelled for bathing a fellow student at the university of Benin with acid, as SSG under Lucky Igbinedion administration, political assassination was at its peak in Edo state and in 2015, same Ize Iyamu led thugs to unleash mayhem on the Edo state House of Assembly.”
Revealing what actually transpired, Shaibu said he and other APC loyalists were on a road show tagged: ‘Sweep them away’ and that the PDP thugs got angry when they sighted APC supporters sweeping the Jattu-Auchi road in the Jattu market area and started throwing stones.
The election was earlier scheduled to hold on September 10, but it was shifted to September 28 based on issues of security.
However, the PDP has continued to maintain that the election was shifted because the APC was scared of defeat, an allegation the latter denied.
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