There is a palpable tension as pandemonium broke out in Akure on Tuesday after armed thugs reportedly stormed a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Ondo state Party Secretariat.
The crisis is rooted in disagreement over whether the APC in Ondo State should proceed with a congress or adopt a consensus arrangement; While some leaders insist on conducting the congress as directed by the national leadership, others are believed to favor an alternative approach.
The situation forced party members to flee in panic and abruptly halting the gathering, while some party leaders were injured including the party’s State Chairman, Engr Ade Adetimehin, others escaped from the scene.
SUNSHINETRUTH NEWS gathered that the attack occurred at the APC secretariat in Ondo State, where party leaders, and party officials had assembled for what was described as a routine stakeholders’ meeting.
However, barely 30 minutes after the meeting commenced, chaos erupted.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers, believed to be young men armed with sticks, machetes and other crude weapons, invaded the premises suddenly, shouting and threatening participants.
It was further learnt that the party’s State Chairman, Engr Ade Adetimehin who presided over the stakeholders meeting, was molested.
Adetimehin accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of allegedly sending political thugs to attack him and other party’s executives and leaders.
At the center of the storm is the State Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, who alleged that the invasion was a calculated attempt to stop the congress process and intimidate party officials perceived to be in support of it.
Trouble reportedly began after a Congress Committee from Abuja met with state party leaders at the APC secretariat to outline modalities for the forthcoming congress.
According to Adetimehin, the committee advised that a stakeholders’ meeting be held the following day to further brief party leaders.
The chairman said he informed Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa about the meeting and also raised concerns about intelligence suggesting that some groups were mobilising to disrupt it.
“He assured me that such could not happen under his watch and that he would caution anyone behind it,” Adetimehin stated.
