Ondo APC Congress Turns Bloody, 4 Killed, Many Injured.

Violence erupted during the ward congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held across the 203 wards of Ondo State on Wednesday, leaving multiple casualties and several others injured. The situation turned particularly deadly in Idanre, a town long regarded as politically volatile, where clashes among rival factions reportedly led to fatalities and widespread destruction.

Initial accounts indicated that as many as four persons were feared killed in the violence, though police authorities later confirmed that two deaths had been recorded, with others sustaining serious injuries. Several victims were rushed to hospitals for treatment following the attacks, which reportedly involved firearms and machetes.

Among those affected was the younger brother of the Ondo State APC Chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin. He was brutally attacked in Idanre Local Government Area by armed assailants who were allegedly searching for the party chairman. According to Adetimehin, the attackers mistook his brother for him because of their striking resemblance.

The chairman explained that when the assailants saw his brother’s vehicle, they believed he was inside. The attackers reportedly opened fire on him, and when he was not fatally wounded by the gunshots, they proceeded to assault him with machetes, axes, and knives, inflicting multiple injuries until he lost consciousness. His vehicle was also set ablaze at the scene. He was later transported to a hospital, where doctors confirmed that he was in a coma after losing a significant amount of blood. The family has since been praying for his recovery.

The violence in Idanre was said to have been triggered by internal disputes among party members aligned with different factions. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as armed thugs allegedly targeted perceived opponents during the congress proceedings.

The unrest followed a separate incident a day earlier in which the state APC chairman was reportedly attacked by suspected thugs. During that earlier disturbance, several individuals, including his driver, were injured and hospitalised in Akure, the state capital.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had convened a stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday evening in response to rising tensions. However, the meeting was reportedly disrupted before it commenced, as thugs allegedly stormed the venue and forced attendees to flee. The governor later described the attackers as supporters of certain aspirants within the party.

Some party chieftains who were affected by the earlier incident at the party’s secretariat alleged political motives behind the attacks, though no formal findings have been announced.

Confirming the violence in Idanre, the spokesperson of the Ondo State Police Command, Abayomi Jimoh, stated that the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, led a team of officers to the area to restore order and prevent further escalation. Police authorities reported that five individuals were attacked during the incident, with two confirmed dead at the hospital and three others receiving medical treatment for varying degrees of injuries. A vehicle was also set on fire during the unrest.

The Commissioner of Police visited the injured victims in the hospital and assured them of the command’s commitment to ensuring justice and maintaining security. Authorities stated that investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attacks. As of the latest update, no arrests had been announced.

Meanwhile, a prominent APC chieftain, Chief Erastus Akeju, recounted his experience during the earlier disturbance at the party secretariat and called for urgent intervention by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the escalating crisis within the party in Ondo State.

The violent episodes have heightened concerns about internal party tensions and the broader security implications of political disputes in the state. Observers note that unless swift action is taken to restore order and address grievances among party members, the crisis could further destabilise the political environment in Ondo State.