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A fresh twist has emerged in the controversy surrounding Wednesday’s political tension at Molete, Ibadan, as a market operator in the area has stoutly disputed the account of the Accord Party Campaign Council, alleging that supporters of the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Oriyomi Hamzat, were responsible for the chaos that disrupted commercial activities in the popular market area.
The market operator’s account directly contradicts the narrative earlier pushed into the public space by the Spokesperson of the Accord Party Campaign Council, Mr. Samuel Ibikunle, popularly known as Arugbo Boiz, who had claimed that hoodlums allegedly sponsored by a rival political party attacked members of the Accord Party during a procession in Molete.
But in messages made available to newsmen on Wednesday evening, the market operator, who claimed to be an eyewitness to the incident, described Ibikunle’s account as false, misleading and a deliberate attempt to twist facts to gain public sympathy.
According to him, the incident was the direct opposite of what the Accord Campaign Council Spokesperson told journalists, insisting that it was supporters of the Accord Party who caused the crisis that led to tension, fear and temporary disruption of trading activities in the Molete area.
“The account given by Arugbo Boiz is not true. What happened in Molete today was caused by supporters of Accord Party. They were the ones who caused the chaos, not any rival party. We are traders here, we saw everything that happened,” the source stated.
The source further claimed that there are video recordings of the incident, including one reportedly recorded by fellow traders in the market, which captures how the chaos started and who was responsible.
He maintained that the videos, if subjected to independent scrutiny, would expose the falsehood in the Campaign Council’s statement and vindicate the market community.
The Molete incident, which occurred on Wednesday during a political procession by the Accord Party, had earlier generated apprehension among residents and traders, with initial reports suggesting an inter-party clash.
However, the latest counter-narrative by the market operator has now raised serious questions about the credibility of the Accord Party Campaign Council’s version of events and the tendency of political actors to weaponize false narratives for political advantage.
Stakeholders in Ibadan note that Molete, being a densely populated commercial hub with heavy human and vehicular traffic, is a sensitive area where any form of political procession must be handled with utmost caution to avoid breakdown of law and order.
They therefore warned political parties and their candidates against reckless mobilization that could endanger lives and property.
As of the time of filing this report, the Accord Party Campaign Council, led by its governorship candidate, Oriyomi Hamzat, had not provided any verifiable evidence to support its claim that its members were attacked by hoodlums from another party.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the market have called on security agencies, including the Oyo State Police Command and the Department of State Services (DSS), to thoroughly investigate the incident, review available video evidence and ensure that those responsible for the chaos are held accountable, irrespective of party affiliation.
They also urged political parties to caution their supporters and adhere strictly to the peace accord signed by all candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing that Oyo State must not be returned to the dark days of political brigandage and thuggery.
Efforts to get an additional reaction from the Accord Party Campaign Council on the new allegations were still ongoing at press time.
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