The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) have traded blames over Thursday’s reported attack on the convoy of Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo in Isale Aluko area of Ilorin, Kwara State by  suspected hoodlums.

Reports say at least four persons were injured after the long convoy of the Vice President was attacked by  political thugs who fired gun shots at the entourage from the corner of a compound where they hid themselves.

Reacting to the incident, the APC through a statement issued by Rafiu Ajakaiye, the Media aide to its gubernatorial candidate in the state, condemned the act in strongest terms.

“We condemn the brazen attack today in Ilorin on the convoy of the Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo by armed PDP thugs, culminating in life-threatening gunshot injuries to at least two of our supporters while many others got seriously injured running for their lives.

“The Vice President was at Isale Aluko suburb of Ilorin on a door-to-door campaign when some dare-devil gunmen opened fire at his convoy which included thousands of APC members and supporters.

“In what is a reminiscence of the Offa robbery, this attack is the height of recklessness on the part of these street urchins who have long been empowered and armed by the discredited dynasty to terrorize our community and anyone who has contrary views to their Amala politics.

“Coming just a day, after two of our supporters were killed in Ojoku in the convoy of our senatorial candidate, Arc. Lola Ashiru. This is becoming too much and the madness must stop.

“Going into an election with these thugs clearly on the loose is an existential threat not just to all of us challenging the misrule in our state but to the entire people of the state and their properties.

“We call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of these thugs. We also demand investigations to reveal those who gave the orders for these deadly attacks. We call for all measures to be taken to ensure safety of lives and properties and sanctity of the ballot box in Kwara and beyond.

“No one’s political interest should be at the expense of human lives and their properties. We insist that a political contest is a contest of ideas and no one must be allowed to cow or kill others in the process.

The PDP in Kwara State, through a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Tunde Ashaolu dissociated itself from the attack.

The party noted that the incident was an intraparty affair involving members of the APC which arose from the endless crisis confronting the party.

Ashaolu explained that  Osinbajo had earlier visited Agbaji, the ancestral home of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki where he went about his campaign activities without encountering any problems.

He disclosed that the crisis broke out when the Vice President got to Alanamu ward of Isale-Aluko, which is the base of two former governorship aspirants of the APC, Lukman Mustapha and Moshood Mustapha, both engulfed in a war of superiority.

“It was also gathered that the money released to be shared among party supporters triggered the violence. Our party has no time for violence as we have been busy preparing for the presidential and national assembly elections coming up on Saturday as well as the governorship and State Assembly elections.

“Once again, we emphasize that the PDP has no hand in the fracas and we reject any attempt by the APC to link our party to the crisis. We advise them to resolve the lingering crisis in their party.

“We also urge security agencies to thoroughly investigate this matter and not to indiscriminately arrest innocent people who have no connection with this unfortunate incident,” the statement added.