The Senator representing Anambra Central Senator Annie Okonkwo was attacked with a matchete by a suspected hoodlum at the popular Eke Awka market.
Also, the campaign train of the former Governor Chris Ngige was stopped at the main market, Onitsha, yesterday with four of his campaign vehicles destroyed.
Okonkwo is seeking re-election on the platform of Accord Party.
Ngige is also gunning for the same seat on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
The state police command through its Public Relations OfficerEmeka Chukwuemeka confirmed the incidents yesterday.
Okonkwo described the incident as unfortunate and barbaric.
He said: “I thought that this contest is going to be a free and fair one. I never knew that some people are desperate. Only God saved me in the hands of those hoodlums.”
The Director-General of Annie Okonkwo Campaign Organisation, Martins Igbokwe said: “The traders invited Okonkwo to come and address them at the market because of the transformer he gave them, having been in the dark in the market for eight years and around 10am when the senator arrived and wanted to mount the podium, a man ran towards him with a brand new matchete to stab him. He was prevented by the security people but the knife slightly touched the senator who was bundled out of the place.
“Things got out of hand when the boy wanted to kill the mobile police man, who shot him in the leg.”
Some of the traders said the hoodlums were allegedly sponsored by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
However, the state chairman of APGA, Chief Mike Kwentoh denied the allegation.
He said:“APGA can never attack anybody. We are not violent. The allegation is not true.”
Some thugs believed to be members of the state government task force prevented Ngige from addressing the traders.
Ngige said the attack on his convoy was terrible, adding that he was not aware of this point-and-kill politics in Anambra.
He said three of his vehicles were destroyed, including two belonging to ACN senatorial candidate in Anambra North zone, Mrs. Jessie Balonwu.
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Political violence rises in Anambra