Ondo APC secretariat attacked as party officials are assaulted in Akure.
Hoodlums on Tuesday stormed the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure, Ondo State, and attacked several party leaders, including the state chairman, Ade Adetimehin.
The attackers reportedly invaded the venue during a routine APC stakeholders’ meeting meant to prepare the party for its ward congress scheduled to begin on Wednesday.Those injured in the attack included Otito Atikase, who represents Ondo State on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), former lawmaker Hon Success Torhukerhojo, former Deputy Speaker Hon Abayomi Akinruntan, Adetimehin’s driver Friday Ogbaide, former Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo council chairman Hon Dayo Akinsuroju, and former commissioner Hon Saka-Yusuf Ogunleye. Eyewitnesses said the thugs arrived suddenly, armed with sticks, machetes, and other cude weapons. They reportedly shouted threats and forced party members to flee in different directions. The meeting venue was abandoned within minutes as panic spread.
Residents around the area described scenes of confusion as party members ran for safety, with some vehicles speeding off to escape the violence. Several APC members were said to have sustained injuries and were taken to hospitals for treatment.
Reacting to the incident, Adetimehin said the meeting was organised as part of preparations for the ward congress and was one of the conditions set by the congress committee sent from Abuja.
According to him, the attackers identified themselves as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
“They came in force and ordered everybody to leave. They said the governor owns the party. We told them we were not challenging anyone, but they attacked us. They dragged me to the ground, beat me, took my two phones and my wristwatch,” he said.
He added that many party members were injured and that when the attackers could not seriously harm him, they turned on his driver and beat him severely.
Another party member, Adeyanju, said the attackers openly claimed they were acting on instructions.
“They were shouting that they were sent by Aiyedatiwa. They said they don’t want congress in Ondo State and that anyone who talks about congress will be assassinated,” he alleged.
A party chieftain, Asiwaju Muyiwa Asagunla, who escaped the attack, condemned the incident and warned against the use of political thugs.
He said about 200 hoodlums invaded the secretariat, chasing out everyone in the hall and beating people with chairs.
“I have never seen this kind of politics in Ondo State. It is dangerous and not part of our culture. Stakeholders should be able to meet peacefully for the progress of the party,” he said.
In one of the videos circulating online from the incident, the APC chairman was heard shouting, “They beat me mercilessly today.”
As of the time of filing this report, the camp of Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had not reacted to t
he allegations.