A pre-congress meeting of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress in Ondo state turned violent Tuesday after suspected thugs stormed the party secretariat, leaving several people injured, including the state party chairman and a federal commissioner.
The attack occurred less than 24 hours before ward congresses scheduled across 203 wards in the state.
Witnesses said the attackers, armed with cutlasses and other weapons, disrupted the stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, the state capital. One eyewitness, Yetunde Adeyanju, said the assailants claimed they were acting on behalf of Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa and threatened violence against anyone who proceeded with the congress.
“They said they did not want congress in Ondo state and that the governor is in charge,” Adeyanju said.
Another witness said several party leaders were beaten, including state APC Chairman Ade Adetimehin; Otito Atikase, a commissioner on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission; and former state sports commissioner Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye. The injured were taken to hospitals for treatment.
Adetimehin confirmed the attack and alleged that the assailants were sponsored to disrupt the meeting.
“Thirty minutes later, the place was invaded by thugs with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons. They beat all leaders and members except those who are for them,” he said, adding that his phones, money and wristwatch were taken.
Ondo State Commissioner for Information Idowu Ajanaku denied any involvement by the governor, calling the allegations “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,” Ajanaku said in a statement, adding that the governor opposes political violence and intimidation.
Police confirmed the incident and said calm had been restored. Abayomi Jimoh, the state police spokesperson, said officers responded to a distress call and deployed operatives to the secretariat.
“Efforts of these operatives restored calmness to the area,” Jimoh said, adding that tactical teams have been deployed and an investigation is ongoing.
