A stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State ended in violence on Tuesday after suspected thugs invaded the party’s state secretariat in Akure, leaving several party leaders injured.
The incident happened less than 24 hours before the party’s scheduled ward congress across the 203 wards in Ondo State. The ward congress is part of the internal party process to elect officials at the grassroots level ahead of future political activities.
The meeting, described as a pre-congress stakeholders’ gathering, was held at the APC state secretariat in Akure, the Ondo State capital. According to eyewitnesses, the meeting was ongoing when a group of men armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons stormed the venue.
An eyewitness said the attackers shouted that they were loyal to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and declared that they did not want any congress to take place in the state.
“They said the governor is in charge and that nobody can question his authority. They threatened that anyone who talks about congress in Ondo State will be assassinated,” the source said.
The attackers reportedly disrupted the meeting, attacked party leaders and members, and destroyed property. The sudden invasion caused panic as many participants ran for safety.
Among those reportedly beaten were the state APC Chairman, Mr Ade Adetimehin; a commissioner on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Otito Atikase; and a former Commissioner for Sports in the state, Mr Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye.
Sources said the injured leaders were rushed to hospitals in Akure for treatment.
Mr Adetimehin later confirmed that he was attacked during the invasion. He alleged that the thugs were sponsored to disrupt the meeting.
“About 30 minutes after the meeting started, thugs invaded the place with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons. They beat all leaders and members, except those who are for them,” he said.
“They beat me and dragged me on the floor. They took away my two phones, money, and wristwatch,” he added.
The APC chairman did not mention any specific individual behind the alleged sponsorship but insisted that the attack was deliberate and aimed at stopping the congress.
Ward congresses are important activities within political parties in Nigeria. During these congresses, party members at the ward level elect officials who will manage the party’s affairs at the grassroots. These officials often play key roles during primary elections and general elections.
The APC, which is Nigeria’s ruling party at the federal level, has in the past experienced internal disagreements during congresses and primaries in different states. Disputes often arise over control of party structures, which are seen as powerful tools ahead of elections.
In Ondo State, political watchers say tensions have been rising within the party over leadership control and future political alignments. Although the state government has not officially linked these tensions to the incident, some party members believe the violence may be connected to internal struggles.
Following the incident, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Mr Idowu Ajanaku, denied any involvement of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the attack.
In a statement, he described the allegation as “unfounded, false and misleading.”
“The governor was neither aware of nor connected to the said meeting and could not have sanctioned any act of thuggery. His leadership reflects a strong aversion to violence and political intimidation in any form,” the statement read.
The commissioner stressed that Governor Aiyedatiwa remains committed to peace and democratic processes within the party and the state.
The Ondo State Police Command confirmed that it received a distress call from the APC secretariat during the incident.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Abayomi Jimoh, said officers were immediately deployed to the scene.
“The police command received a distress call, and we immediately swung into action, deploying operatives to the APC state secretariat. The efforts of these operatives restored calmness to the area,” he said.
He added that tactical teams have been stationed around the area to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
According to him, investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest those responsible for the attack.
Political violence during party congresses and primaries is not new in Nigeria. Over the years, there have been reports of clashes, destruction of property, and even loss of lives during internal party elections.
Civil society groups have repeatedly called on political parties to ensure that their internal processes are peaceful and transparent. They also urge security agencies to act swiftly to prevent violence and bring perpetrators to justice.
In Ondo State, residents expressed concern that the violence could affect peace in the state if not properly handled. Some party members who attended the meeting said they were shocked by the level of aggression displayed by the attackers.
“This is a party meeting, not a battlefield,” one member said. “We should be discussing how to strengthen our party, not fighting ourselves.”
As of press time, it was not clear whether the ward congress scheduled for the today would proceed as planned. Party officials have yet to issue an official statement on whether the event will be postponed or continue under tight security.
For now, attention is on the police investigation and the condition of the injured leaders.
The violent disruption of what was meant to be a routine party meeting has once again raised questions about internal democracy within political parties in Nigeria. Many Nigerians believe that for democracy to grow stronger, political parties must first learn to conduct their own affairs peacefully.
