Among the victims of the clash, which occured at the airport during President Goodluck Jonathan's visit to the city, was the PDP Chairman in Oluyole Local Government Area, Elder Oyelade Akinlade.
Oyelade, it was gathered, was still unconscious at the Renewth Clinic and Maternity, Oremeji, Argungu , Ibadan, where he was rushed to for medical attention.
A source at the hospital yesterday said doctors were still battling to revive the party chairman, as he was yet to regain consciousness.
Some ACN supporters were also said to have sustained injuries from the fracas which occurred outside the main gate leading to the airport.
The PDP and ACN supporters were said to have stationed themselves at the Airport as early as 8 am to welcome Jonathan and members of his entourage, including the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, who were in Ibadan to have an on the spot assessment of the damage caused by penultimate Friday's flood disaster which claimed more than 100 lives and damaged property worth several millions of naira.
A heated argument between the two opposition groups was said to have resulted in a free for all, leaving many severely injured.
According to an eyewitness account, trouble started when security men disallowed some of the party supporters entry into the airport.
Some members of the ACN were said to have frowned at what they described as an illegal party rally at the airport by some PDP supporters, who allegedly turned the occasion into a party jamboree.
The PDP supporters were said to have started singing and dancing in a manner the ACN supporters considered offensive.
When the PDP supporters persisted, the ACN supporters were said to have also mobilised their members and started singing and dancing; an action the PDP supporters also considered offensive.
Members of the two opposing parties were later said to have resorted to assaulting one another, throwing missiles and using clubs and charms.
Sensing danger, Elder Akinlade was said to have run for safety, but an unidentified person hit him with a club on his forehead, causing him to fall on the ground and lying unconscious while his dress was stained with blood.
Akinlade was later taken to the hospital where he received treatment along with others who also sustained injuries in the fracas.
Both PDP and the ACN members are trading blames over the crisis. While the PDP accused the Vice Chairman of the state's Pilgrims Board, Alhaji Abass Oloko of inciting members of the ACN to attack its members, the ACN alleged that the PDP Chairman in Oluyole deliberately came with party thugs to the airport with the aim of attacking ACN members .
Source: Ascology News
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