Tension is rising within the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following an attack on key party leaders by armed thugs at a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, the state capital.
The meeting, held at the APC Secretariat ahead of the party’s ward congress scheduled for Wednesday, was reportedly disrupted when suspected political hoodlums stormed the venue with weapons, assaulted party officials and forced the gathering into chaos.
Among those attacked was the APC state chairman, Engineer Ade Adetimehin, who was allegedly beaten and dragged from the conference hall to the ground floor of the secretariat. Other party leaders injured during the incident included Ademola Ijabiyi, Saka Yusuf, Otito Atikase, Muyiwa Asagunla, Akin Sowore, Rasheed Badmus, Yetunde Adeyanju, Sola Ajisafe, Dr Koka Ademujimi and Chief Bode Sunmonu.
Speaking after the incident, Adetimehin said the attackers specifically targeted him, claiming they shouted his name as they entered the hall. He disclosed that his wristwatch, two mobile phones and the sum of ₦210,000 were taken from him during the assault.
He also stated that his driver was severely beaten while attempting to protect him and was later rushed to a private hospital where he was revived.
Adetimehin explained that the stakeholders’ meeting was convened following discussions with a ward congress committee that arrived from Abuja. He said the committee had requested that a meeting be held with party stakeholders to discuss the modalities for the congress.
According to him, he informed Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa about the planned meeting and also alerted him about rumours that some individuals were mobilising to disrupt it. He claimed the governor assured him that such violence would not be allowed, but the attack still occurred shortly after.
He alleged that the attackers arrived with cutlasses and guns, firing intermittently and beating several party members. He added that the thugs insisted they did not want the congress to hold.
Meanwhile, former Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperative Services, Mrs Yetunde Adeyanju, accused the governor of being behind the disruption, claiming the attackers openly declared they were sent by Aiyedatiwa. She said the thugs threatened that anyone who spoke about conducting the congress would be assassinated.
Similarly, the state representative on the Niger Delta Development Commission board, Otito Atikase, described the development as embarrassing and alleged that the governor’s body language suggested dissatisfaction with the ongoing party process. He claimed he was among the first to be attacked and warned that the violent approach being introduced into Ondo politics could destabilise the state.
Another party chieftain, Olumuyiwa Asagunla, said the attackers were about 200 in number and forced party members out of the hall while claiming that the governor had ordered that no congress should be held.
Hon. Ademola Ijabiyi, who reportedly sustained a fracture, said he narrowly escaped being lynched by disguising himself as an aide helping an injured elderly man. He described the scene as total chaos and warned that such actions could harm internal party unity and democracy.
However, the Ondo State Government denied any involvement in the attack. In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Idowu Ajanaku, the government described allegations linking Governor Aiyedatiwa to the violence as false, malicious and politically driven.
The government stated that the governor was not aware of the meeting and could not have sponsored any form of thuggery, stressing that his administration has zero tolerance for violence.
The APC in Ondo State also reacted, describing the disruption as an isolated misunderstanding caused by a few elements. In a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, the party condemned attempts to link the incident to the forthcoming congress, noting that an internal review had been launched to uncover the facts.
The party also commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for directing security operatives to restore calm and assured members that the congress would be conducted peacefully and transparently.
Reacting to the incident, the Ondo State Police Command confirmed receiving a distress call and deploying officers to the scene. The police spokesperson, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, said calm had been restored and one injured person had been taken to a nearby hospital.
He added that the Commissioner of Police had deployed tactical teams to secure the secretariat while investigations continue.
