A political meeting in Nigeria’s Ondo State turned violent on Tuesday when suspected thugs reportedly stormed the headquarters of the ruling party, assaulting officials including the state party chairman.
The disturbance occurred at a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of an upcoming nationwide ward congress scheduled in the region.
Witnesses said attackers armed with machetes and other crude weapons invaded the party secretariat in Akure, leaving several members injured and forcing participants to flee.
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of chaos as the assailants shouted threats and accused the party leadership of defying unspecified directives.
The state APC chairman, Engineer Ade Adetimehin, told journalists that he was beaten, dragged to the floor and robbed of personal items during the attack.
Several other senior party figures, including a Niger Delta Development Commission commissioner and former state officials, were also reported to have sustained injuries and were taken to hospitals for treatment.
In a statement, the Ondo State Government denied any connection to the violence, calling allegations that the governor sanctioned the assault “unfounded and misleading,” and emphasizing its opposition to political intimidation.
Law enforcement authorities confirmed they responded promptly to distress calls and deployed personnel to restore calm at the scene, and investigations into the incident are ongoing.
