The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State are trading words over the fracas that left five people dead following the defection of some APC members to PDP on Friday.

What would have been an innocuous political gathering in Ilorin, recently turned violent as hoodlums brandishing dangerous weapons mostly guns, engaged one another in a duel shortly after some All Progressives Congress (APC) members cross-carpeted to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogidi ward of Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The mini rally took place in front of Shayi's compound in Alore, Ilorin metropolis where some PDP officials received the defectors who openly tore their APC membership cards while receiving the PDP flag.

In attendance were the PDP vice chairman of the Central zone, Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha Salman, state women leader, Hajia Nimota Oba Sulyman; organizing secretary, Jimoh Mobolaji Jibril; deputy secretary, Abolaji Raji; treasurer, Ahmed Adebayo; former House of Assembly Speaker, Ezekiel Benjamin; a chieftain of the party, Dr. Saad Omoiya; among others.

But the dignitaries had barely left the area when the atmosphere became tense. People were seen running around at the Abayawo axis of the road while many passersby and motorists coming from Oloje area were made to do a detour to pass through Ita Merin road to avoid being trapped in the crossfire.

Reports had it that a politician had handed out monetary gifts to the hoodlums who differed on how to share the money thereby killing and attacking one another.

One of the dead was one Tajudeen Eba who is believed to be one of the defectors

Giving an account of the incident, the police commissioner, Mr. Ambrose Aisabo said, those involved were fighting over a sharing formula.

"We were reliably informed, though we are still investigating that, that a prominent politician from this state came, gave money to these hoodlums. During the sharing, a quarrel ensued and in the process one of the hoodlums was killed by his fellow hoodlums.

"So the police ran to the scene. When we got there, the police patrol teams were greeted with a hail of bullets, firing. So the police had to respond. In the process, two of the miscreants were gunned down. Then 14 others were arrested," he said.

But the incident has provoked several questions. Could the paltry sum of N20, 000 handed out have precipitated the wanton killing and destruction of properties as 15 vehicles were reportedly destroyed? Though the defection rally took place at Alore, how come it was Omoda and Ode Alausa areas which are far from the place that were affected? Could it be an intra party fight between PDP members or an inter party squabble with the rival APC?

Though residents of the community who spoke with DailyTrust correspondent believe that the crisis must have been political, they believe it must have been hijacked by some criminal elements who have an axe to grind with one another.

But the PDP and APC in Kwara have added to the fray by pointing accusing fingers at each other.

As soon as the cross-carpeting report filtered in, the APC issued a statement debunking it and insisting that none of its members defected to the PDP.

The party said checks on its register indicated that the leader of the defectors, Ajadi Abdulfatah, is not on its membership list.

But beyond the denial of the defection story is the apportioning of blames by the two parties which had complicated the story and left residents to wonder which of the parties' hoodlums masterminded the pandemonium.

The APC fired the first salvo by condemning the murder of the defector and accusing the PDP of inciting violence in the community.

The statement signed by APC publicity secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari said, "The violent activities of the opposition PDP in the State is a concern to the APC. The APC has consistently alerted the good people of Kwara State and the Police Command on the violent disposition, gangsterism and the rich record of violence the PDP flaunts. Surprisingly, the PDP has broken its own record of violence in the state."

He said the APC condemns the murder and the destruction of properties but said the incident illustrates the fact that the PDP is a violent party.

"The APC believes life is sacrosanct, either APC member or member of opposition parties or any Kwaran. The buck of this irresponsibility stops on the leadership of Kwara PDP. We warn the PDP to desist from oiling its evidently weak political machinery with the blood of Kwarans," it said.

But the PDP fired back, saying it suspected a political office holder in the state as being behind the attack on its members.

PDP chietain, Chief Rex Olawoyin, said the party was saddened by what he called "the raw display of violence and unprovoked attacks on its new members.

He said the party regrets the death of Eba, whose only offence "was his insistence on exercising his right to association, and which the Kwara APC found sacrilegious!"

The party said a high profile special adviser to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed had hired thugs to unleash mayhem on the innocent defectors while calling on the police to fish out the perpetrators.

It added, "It is the same government functionary that orchestrated a kangaroo 'defection' of alleged PDP members in apparent panic reaction to the open renunciation of membership of the APC by over 2000 former members of the APC in Kwara State on 13th Friday, June 2014 at Alore area of Kwara State.

"Instead of honestly embarking on a soul-searching about the true state of its political worth in Kwara state, the APC has continued to live in denial, resorted to cheap propaganda and outright lies, and now raw violence, with its commissioned thugs invading the private residences of the new decampees in the Local Government Area."

However, the APC went further by calling for the arrest of PDP chairman, Chief Iyiola Akogun, to stem the tide of violence in the state. But the PDP dismissed the call for the arrest of its leaders, saying APC leaders are the ones behind the violence.

With the two parties pointing accusing fingers at each other, the onus lies on the security agents to fish out those behind the crisis. However, the police commissioner promised that the command would not falter in this regard.

"No Nigerian is above the law, if you are found wanting, whether you are a former governor or Senator or anything, we will deal with you according to the law of the land. So it is a warning to politicians in Kwara State", Aisabo said.

But the people of the state have called for less politicking on the issue of violence and for the relevant authorities to take necessary actions, that would assure them of a crises free election in the state.