Osun LG Election: APC members attack journalist, prevent coverage of process at collation center

Blessing Akorowosi, Osogbo

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Saturday allegedly attacked Daily Trust newspaper correspondent, Hameed Oyegbade while covering the collation of the local government results in Osun.

The incidence occurred at the election collation center located within the premises of Osogbo South West LCDA, Awosuru in Osogbo around 1:37pm.

The APC members had earlier prevented journalists from gaining access into the collation center to cover the process.

It was gathered that some overzealous party members attacked Oyegbade, who had managed to sneak into the centre and was recording videos for his report.

The attackers threatened to destroy his tools and kill him. The timely intervention of some council officials at the scene prevented the members from mobbing him.

The Osun State Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has however, condemned the attack on one of its members, Oyegbade.

Oyegbade narrates his ordeal, “They said I should not cover the election. I attempted to educate them that they do not have the authority to dictate to me not to cover the election but they didn’t listen.

“They attempted to seize my phone. They threatened that they would kill him. I must appreciate a local government chairman and few reasonable ones among the APC members who cautioned the overzealous ones that attacked me.

“I must not fail to recognise the very unprofessional conduct of some of Policemen and a Policewoman at the scene. As I was being attacked, the police operatives on election duty were watching without doing anything. I expected them to protect me but they didn’t. A Policewoman was even telling me to leave the place. So sad.”

“Because of the mob, I couldn’t advise the fair complexion Policewoman that she was not doing the right thing. A police officer from Ataoja Division Police Headquarters later came to me and politely appealed to me to leave. So, I left the place.”

“The experience was traumatising. The action of the APC members was not a big deal. Of course, as a journalist, I know it’s part of job hazard. The most unfortunate part that made me sad was the role of the policemen and the policewoman in particular. Alas.”