Edo Poll: LP Guber Candidate Akpata, Uniben SUG Tango Over Attack

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Barrister Olumide Akpata yesterday accused an unnamed senior government official of the Edo State government to have masterminded an attack on him on Friday afternoon at the University of Benin.

The Labour Party governorship hopeful was a guest at an interactive session organised by the University of Benin Staff Club but the event was violently interrupted which caused pandemonium within the school premises.

This is as the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the university in a statement signed by its president, Comrade King Lemuel and the secretary, Comrade Eriamiatoe Miracle, titled, “Update on Security Threats and Institutional Disregard,” also frowned at the incident saying, “using students as a means of campaign at the staff club” was an ugly development.

They noted that the president of Uniben Staff Club was also being questioned by the appropriate authorities.

The SUG alleged that the union was never informed about the interactive session involving the Labour Party candidate adding that the school security was not aware of any authorisation of such meeting.

Akpata, in a viral video released yesterday, said a senior lecturer who sustained injury as a result of the attack was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Benin.

He also debunked allegations that his security personnel shot a student of the university noting that it was another lie to discredit his soaring popularity.

He said that at the appropriate time, a detailed report of the incident and those involved would be made known to the police for appropriate action.

Meanwhile, in a statement signed by the university’s public relations officer, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, the management of the university condemned the reported violence.

She said the management has set up a committee to be presided over by Professor Frederick Ekhaise to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the violent action.