Tension erupted in Akure on Monday after suspected armed thugs disrupted the senatorial primary election of the All Progressives Congress for the Ondo Central Senatorial District, forcing party members, journalists and residents to flee for safety.
The incident occurred at Ward 5, located around Ebenezer African Church Primary School on Amudipe Street, where voting was underway before sporadic gunshots suddenly threw the area into panic.
The ward is known as the voting unit of the incumbent senator, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, who is contesting alongside Taiwo Fasoranti and retired military officer turned legal practitioner, Olumuyiwa Adu.
Eyewitnesses said the chaos began after some youths suspected to be political thugs stormed the venue while accreditation and voting were ongoing. The election exercise was taking place within the premises of African Church Primary School and St. Peters African Church Primary School, causing fear among teachers and parents who hurriedly evacuated pupils from the environment.
As gunshots echoed through the area, journalists and party supporters reportedly jumped fences and ran in different directions in search of safety, forcing the election process to stop abruptly.
Reacting to the incident, Senator Adegbonmire condemned the exercise, describing it as a complete sham. He alleged that the attack was deliberately planned to stop his supporters from voting after it became obvious he was leading at his polling unit.
According to him, counting had already started and his supporters were said to be in the lead before armed men invaded the venue, fired shots into the air and allegedly shot at his vehicle.
The senator further claimed that similar intimidation and disruptions were taking place in other parts of the senatorial district, alleging that some voters were openly warned against supporting certain candidates.
He called on the national leadership of the APC to urgently intervene, insisting that the process was being manipulated to favour a particular aspirant.
Adegbonmire also disclosed that he had informed Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, about the development, although he stopped short of directly accusing the governor of involvement despite claims that some individuals at the scene invoked his name.
Another aspirant, Olumuyiwa Adu, also rejected the outcome of the exercise, alleging that armed youths intimidated delegates and prevented genuine party members from voting freely.
The former military officer stated that despite the tension and provocation, he restrained his supporters from retaliating in order to avoid bloodshed and maintain peace.
He warned that repeated violence during party primaries could create deeper divisions within the APC and damage the party’s future electoral chances if urgent steps are not taken.
However, Taiwo Fasoranti dismissed the allegations surrounding the exercise, maintaining that the primary election was peaceful, transparent and credible. He also expressed confidence that he would emerge victorious once the final results are officially announced.
