The ward congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State turned into a fiasco Wednesday, leaving several people injured and at least two confirmed dead.
Other online sources claim four persons may have been killed in the clashes across Idanre, a town known for political volatility.
The younger brother of the state chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin, was attacked and is currently in coma.
Witnesses said thugs mistook him for the chairman and hacked him with machetes and axes. His car was set ablaze.
Confirming the incident, APC chairman Ade Adetimehin said his brother was targeted because of their striking resemblance.
“When the thugs saw his car, they thought it was me. They shot at him, then hacked him with machetes and stabbed him many times. They set his car ablaze and left him lifeless. He is now in coma after losing so much blood,” he said.
The attack followed Tuesday’s violence at the APC secretariat in Akure, where Adetimehin himself was assaulted by thugs allegedly linked to the National Union of Road Transport Workers. His driver and several others were hospitalised.
Governor Denies Involvement
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa convened a stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday, but the gathering was disrupted by thugs who chased attendees out. Some party chieftains accused the governor of being behind the attack.
Denying the allegation, Aiyedatiwa said he had no connection with the miscreants. His spokesman, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, said the governor has always provided inclusive leadership.
“The governor is the leader of the party and father to all members. He called on security agencies to restore order and investigate the crisis in Idanre. He has urged aspirants to call their supporters to order,” Adeniyan said.
Ondo State Police Command confirmed that five people were attacked in Idanre. Two were confirmed dead, while three sustained injuries. A vehicle was also set ablaze.
Police spokesman Abayomi Jimoh said Commissioner of Police Adebowale Lawal led a team to quell the violence.
“The commissioner visited the injured victims and assured them of support. Investigation is ongoing to apprehend those responsible,” he said.
Factional Rivalry
Party elders linked the violence to rivalry between Governor Aiyedatiwa and Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. Chief Erastus Akeju, a chieftain of the party, said the crisis reflects a cold war between the two leaders.
He explained that elders had not been formally briefed about the rivalry until the violence escalated.
“We saw what happened yesterday. Thugs shouted ‘No BTO’ during the attack. That was the first time it became clear to us that this matter involved the rivalry we had been hearing about,” Akeju said.
He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC national leadership to intervene urgently.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as chairs were thrown and weapons used during the clashes.
Some party members said they were targeted for supporting Tunji-Ojo. Others insisted the violence was instigated by aspirants seeking advantage in the congress.
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