Idanre, Nigeria — A ward congress organized by the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State turned deadly on Wednesday as violence erupted, resulting in at least two fatalities and multiple injuries. The chaos is believed to have been incited by political thugs linked to the National Union of Road Transport Workers.
The congress, designed to elect new ward executives across 203 wards, faced severe disruptions in the Idanre Local Government Area when a group arrived in several vehicles and overwhelmed the venue. Witnesses reported that tensions flared amid disputes over the eligibility of delegates and the distribution of ward positions, eventually escalating to physical confrontations and gunfire.
Among the injured was Raphael Adetimehin, the younger brother of the party’s state chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin. Raphael suffered grave injuries during the attack and is currently in a coma at a private hospital. Engr. Adetimehin revealed that the assailants initially intended to target him but shifted their aggression toward his brother, attacking him with machetes after gunfire failed to incapacitate him.
“The assault on my younger brother is profoundly tragic. They intended to harm me, but he became their target instead,” he said. “It’s disheartening to witness such violence disrupt our party’s democratic processes.”
The unrest was particularly acute in the outskirts of the state capital, with areas like Iju/Ita Ogbolu experiencing significant disturbances. The violence delayed the congress for hours and prompted local authorities to intervene. Police Commissioner Lawal Adebowale and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Oluyemi Ibiloye, coordinated a tactical response team to restore order.
The Ondo State police spokesperson, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed that five individuals suffered injuries and that one vehicle was incinerated during the altercations. He added that two victims succumbed to their wounds, with their bodies taken to a local morgue for examination.
“These violent acts hinder the electoral process and compromise the integrity of our internal democracy,” expressed members of the PBAT Mandate Elders Forum, who condemned the attacks. They urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to initiate an immediate investigation into the events that transpired.
As investigations continue, party leaders and community members are left grappling with the implications of the violence, apprehensive about its potential to undermine the political landscape in Ondo State. The pervasive sense of fear and injustice raises critical questions about the safety of political engagement in the region.