There was tension yesterday at Omuo-Ekiti, Kota-Ekiti and other communities in Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State, following a bloody clash between supporters of Governor Ayo Fayose and those of Senate Deputy Minority Whip Biodun Olujimi.

Scores of people were said to have been wounded at a meeting of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Kota-Ekiti on Sunday. It was attended by members from both factions.
The House of Assembly member representing Ekiti East Constituency II, Dare Pelemo, who is a loyalist of Fayose, was said to have been among the wounded.

A source told our reporter yesterday that many of the victims of the attack are receiving treatment at undisclosed hospitals in Omuo and Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Residents scampered to safety and stayed away until the dust of the clash cleared.

Fayose and Olujimi are locked in a cold war over the latter’s governorship ambition; the governor allegedly warned Olujimi to drop her governorship ambition but the senator reportedly rebuffed the governor.

The crisis reached a crescendo two weeks ago when two House of Assembly members – Michael Adeojo (Ekiti Southwest II) and Ojo Ade Fajana (Ekiti East 1) – were investigated for their alleged loyalty and closeness to Olujimi.

A source said the clash erupted over alleged plan to take control of the meeting by one of the factions, which snowballed into physical combat in which missiles were hurled on both sides.

Assembly member Pelemo, the source said, had his clothes torn by Olujimi’s supporters, who mobilised to attack him for “attempting to advance Fayose’s interest” at the meeting.

The source said: “The meeting ended in disarray as the team loyal to Senator Olujimi and team loyal to Governor Fayose exchanged fisticuffs.

“The House of Assembly member representing Ekiti East Constituency II, Pelemo, was beaten up while other members of the team loyal to Governor Fayose ran for their lives.”

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