The Returning Officer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Supare Akoko, South West council area of Ondo state, in the just concluded governorship primary election, Alaba Abe, aka Excel, has reportedly been assassinated.
Abe, who was also the ward 10 coordinator of the party in the council area, served as the returning officer for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the governorship primary election on April 20.
The victims death was confirmed by his elder brother, Samuel Abbey.
Samuel said that his brother was assassinated on Saturday at about 9 pm in front of his house.
In a swift reaction, the governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Group, has appealed to the police authorities in the state to protect its members against implacable opponents.
While decrying the gruesome murder of the ward coordinator, the campaign group in a statement issued by its State Information Director of the organisation, Mr. Kayode Fasua, said that “the late Excel, was a resourceful coordinator, campaigning for the election of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa until he was gruesomely murdered.
Fasua said that “he was shot in his Supare home on April 27.
He described the incident as a rude shock to members of the party in the council area, working for the election of the governor, come November, this year.
Also reacting, the Akoko Southwest Local Government Director-General for the campaign group, David Ajobiewe, equally described the incident as a rude shock.
“Excel had been a resourceful coordinator for the Aiyedatiwa campaign organisation in Ward 10 of Supare and was never known to be violent and never had any history of local or domestic dispute.
“We urge the police authorities to step up investigations into his gruesome murder and bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.
Meanwhile, the Convener of the campaign group Dr. Oladipupo Okeyomi, has expressed the heartfelt condolences of Governor Aiyedatiwa, as well as the lamentation of the campaign group and the leadership of the APC in Ondo State, on the tragic loss.
He described the incident as terrible and uncalled for, expressing his sympathy with the family members, friends, and associates of the late Excel.
Contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Funmi Odunlami, said that ” In brief, the command is aware of the incident at Supare, investigation is ongoing to unravel all that happened.