Violence erupted on Tuesday at the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure, Ondo State, after suspected political thugs disrupted a stakeholders’ meeting, leaving several party members injured and others fleeing the scene.
The meeting, held in the Ondo State capital of Akure, was convened to address internal party matters ahead of the upcoming ward, local government, and state congresses.
The congresses, expected to usher in new party executives, have reportedly heightened tensions within the ruling party and deepened existing divisions among members.
According to eyewitness accounts, party leaders, delegates, and officials were already engaged in discussions when the attackers forcefully entered the premises.
Armed with machetes, broken bottles, planks, stones, and other dangerous objects, the assailants reportedly descended on attendees, causing chaos and panic.
Sources present at the meeting said the sudden attack threw the gathering into disarray, as members scrambled for safety.
Several individuals sustained injuries in the process, while others abandoned their vehicles in a rush to escape further harm.
One party executive, who spoke anonymously, described the scene as terrifying. He said participants were caught off guard as the attackers stormed the venue and began issuing threats. Many, he noted, had no choice but to flee to avoid being harmed.
The violence underscores growing unrest within the party in Ondo State, as rival factions prepare for the internal elections that will determine new leadership structures at various levels.
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Confirming the incident, the APC’s Ondo State Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, said the party would release additional information as the situation becomes clearer.