The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has distanced himself from the series of protests that followed the All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Assembly primaries in Lagos, warning individuals against using his name to promote demonstrations or political agitation.

Obasa also rejected attempts to associate him with the growing wave of protests that have trailed the release of candidates’ lists for the party’s legislative primaries, describing efforts to hold him responsible as unfair and misleading.

His reaction comes after APC members from several local government areas, including Badagry, Mushin, Amuwo-Odofin, Eti-Osa, Somolu, Ajeromi-Ifelodun and Oshodi-Isolo, staged a protest at the party’s secretariat on ACME Road in Ikeja on Tuesday, alleging irregularities in the conduct and outcome of the primaries.

The demonstration was the latest in a series of protests that have erupted across the state since the Lagos APC published the names of candidates said to have emerged from the primary elections.

Amid the controversy, messages circulated on WhatsApp alleging that Obasa had provided N2 billion to sponsor and coordinate the protests across different parts of the state.

Responding to the claims, the Speaker dismissed the allegations as false and unfounded, questioning the rationale behind linking him to the demonstrations.

“It is foolhardy, malicious, misleading and baseless for anybody to assume or imply that I will import or mobilise protesters from different local governments to the secretariat. To achieve what exactly?

“I am not a candidate in the disputed election, so why and how will I devote such an amount of money to organising protests?” he said.

Obasa further stressed that he remained committed to peace and unity within the APC, warning against attempts to drag his name into actions capable of creating division within the party.

“I am a peace-loving party man, and I abhor the use of my name and office for any form of illegality or to sow division within the party,” he added.

The Speaker reiterated his dedication to the stability and progress of the ruling party in Lagos, stating that his focus remains on promoting harmony and supporting the continued development of the state.

“My steadfast commitment remains the unity, peace, and progress of our great party and the people of Lagos State,” Obasa said.

Osun State Police Command has launched an investigation into the shooting incidents that occurred in parts of the state which has left several people injured.

In a statement issued on Wednesday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said the command was deeply concerned about the incidents and had commenced efforts to identify and arrest those responsible.

According to the statement, CP Gotan immediately directed the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, alongside the Operations and Intelligence Departments, to begin a comprehensive investigation.

The police said the investigation was aimed at ensuring the arrest and prosecution of all individuals connected with the attacks.

“The Commissioner of Police immediately directed the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), alongside the department of operations and intelligence units of the command, to commence a thorough investigation aimed at arresting and prosecuting those responsible,” the statement said.

The command assured residents that normalcy had been restored in the affected areas and that measures had been put in place to prevent a recurrence of the violence.

It added that security had been reinforced in the affected communities, while intelligence-led operations were ongoing to track down the perpetrators and any sponsors linked to the incidents.

“The Command wishes to reassure residents that all necessary steps have been taken as normalcy has been restored to the areas and measures have been implemented to prevent any recurrence,” the statement added.

The police further disclosed that officers promptly evacuated injured victims to medical facilities for treatment and noted that those affected were responding positively to medical care.

The Commissioner of Police appealed to residents to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, while urging members of the public with useful information to assist the investigation.

“Citizens with useful information that can aid the ongoing investigation are encouraged to report to the nearest police station or contact the Command through its emergency channels. All information provided will be treated with strict confidentiality,” Ojelabi said.

The command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state and pledged to ensure that all those behind the criminal acts were brought to justice.

Police also warned individuals and groups against taking the law into their own hands or engaging in activities capable of threatening public peace and security in Osun State.

DAILY POST has reported on Tuesday that the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke and the Osun State All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship Campaign Council exchanged accusations over a wave of violence reported in parts of Osun State, as both sides called for security intervention and investigations into the incidents.

The allegations followed reports of attacks and shootings in Osogbo, Ede and Ile-Ife, with the state government, the APC and the Accord offering differing accounts of the disturbances and assigning responsibility to rival political groups.

Addressing an emergency press briefing in Osogbo, Governor Adeleke condemned the coordinated attacks by political thugs allegedly associated with the governorship campaign of APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO.

However, the Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council rejected the governor’s claims and accused supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Accord of orchestrating attacks against APC members and campaign assets.

Meanwhile, the Accord through a statement signed by its Osun State Chairman, Pastor Victor Babalola Akande, alleged that armed thugs allegedly linked to the APC governorship campaign carried out shootings in parts of Osogbo and Owode-Ede, resulting in casualties and injuries.