A pre-congress stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State turned violent on Tuesday when suspected thugs stormed the party secretariat in Akure, leaving several party leaders injured. The state chairman, Ade Adetimehin, and a commissioner were reportedly beaten during the attack.
The incident occurred less than 24 hours before the nationwide ward congress scheduled across 203 wards in the state. Eyewitnesses said the attackers, armed with cutlasses and other weapons, shouted threats against anyone discussing the congress and claimed allegiance to a figure named Aiyedatiwa.
Adetimehin alleged that the thugs were sponsored to disrupt the meeting. He said he was beaten, dragged on the floor, and had his phones, money, and wristwatch taken. Several other leaders and party members were also injured and rushed to hospitals for treatment.
The Commissioner for Information, Idowu Ajanaku, denied any involvement by the governor, describing claims that the state leadership sanctioned the attack as “unfounded, false and misleading.”
The Ondo State Police confirmed the incident. Police spokesperson Abayomi Jimoh stated that officers were deployed promptly, restoring order to the area. Investigations into the attack are ongoing, and tactical units remain on alert to prevent further escalation.
