At least two persons were reportedly killed on Wednesday during the ward congress of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, as violence erupted in Idanre, Idanre Local Government Area.
Punch reports that several others were said to have sustained injuries during the crisis, which also led to the burning of a vehicle.
The incident came barely 24 hours after suspected political thugs disrupted a stakeholders’ meeting at the party’s secretariat in Akure. The meeting was presided over by the state chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin.
Sources in Idanre said the congress could not hold in some wards as hoodlums allegedly attacked party members.
The cause of the violence was yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.
One of the victims was identified as Raphael Adetimehin, said to be a brother of the state APC chairman. He was reportedly attacked at his ward in Idanre.
Confirming the development, Ade Adetimehin said his brother was shot and macheted by suspected thugs who allegedly mistook him for the chairman.
“My brother was attacked; those who attacked him thought I was the one because we resemble each other very well. After shooting and macheting him, they left him when they thought he was dead. I don’t know why we are playing our politics to this extent,” he stated.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said he would get back to our correspondent when reached on the telephone.
The crisis highlights escalating tension within the Ondo State chapter of the APC ahead of the party’s internal restructuring process.
On Tuesday, suspected thugs stormed the party secretariat in Akure and disrupted a stakeholders’ meeting, injuring several members and forcing an abrupt end to proceedings.
