Supporters of Governor Ayodele Fayose and those of Senator Abiodun Olujimi reportedly clashed on Sunday, leaving many injured.
Fayose and Olujimi have been enmeshed in crisis over the latter’s governorship ambition, which the governor was alleged not to have been favourably disposed to.
Two members of the state House of Assembly, Adeojo Fajana and Michael Adedeji are under probe over their alleged loyalty to Senator Olujimi, who is now in the bad book of the governor.
The clash allegedly took place in Kota-Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government area of the state during the meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the council.
It was gathered from a source who attended the meeting that crisis started when the two factions had come to the meeting with mindsets to outdo each other.
According to the source, the lawmaker representing Ekiti East constituency II and a known Fayose’s ally, Hon. Dare Pelemo, were said to have been beaten , with his dresses turned into shreds by Olujimi’s angry supporters.
Those wounded during the clash were said to have been taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.
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 was beaten while other members of the team loyal to Governor Fayose run for their lives,” he said.
The fight had attracted those in the neighbourhood and they were said to have been frightened and run for their lives.
When contacted, Pelemo said Olujimi’s group actually attacked him but said he was never beaten to stupor as being rumoured.
“Yes, they attacked our members at the meeting just because they wanted to show supremacy they didn’t have.
“We have enough followers on ground who could deal with them, but we decided not to do so. Governor Fayose is a popular politician with wide followership, so these few people couldn’t have overpowered us as they claimed in social media,” Pelemo stated.