Violence and protests on Wednesday marred the ward congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, with eyewitnesses reporting that at least two persons lost their lives in Idanre Local Government Area.
According to eyewitness accounts, the victims were allegedly killed during clashes linked to disagreements over the conduct of the congress, though full details of the incident were still unclear as of the time of filing this report.
In Akure South Local Government Area, the exercise was disrupted by protests and rising tension among party members, who rejected the alleged imposition of Mr. Femi Fadairo as the Returning Officer.
Aggrieved members insisted that Fadairo, an aspirant to the House of Representatives, was previously suspended from Ward 8 over allegations of gross misconduct and violent activities, making his appointment unacceptable to many stakeholders.
Sources also alleged that Fadairo, said to be backed by Hon. Babatunde Kolawole Ameachi, replaced the list of delegates originally submitted by Akure South leaders with his own, sparking outrage and protests among party members, who described the move as an attempt to manipulate the process.
Eyewitnesses further hinted at unrest in other local government areas of the state, although such incidents could not be independently confirmed at press time.
The latest violence is coming on the heels of Tuesday’s attack on APC stakeholders in Akure, where hoodlums allegedly working for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa reportedly invaded a meeting at the party secretariat.
During the attack, the APC State Chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, and other party leaders were said to have been brutally assaulted, leaving several of them hospitalized with varying degrees of injuries and heightening tension within the party as the congress progresses.
The ward congress, being held across the 203 wards in the 18 local government areas of the state, is a key process for electing party officials at the grassroots level.
