At least two people were reportedly killed on Wednesday as violence broke out during the All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congress in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Reports from the area said several others were injured in the chaos, while a vehicle was also set on fire during the disturbance.
Sources revealed that the ward congress could not hold in some locations after suspected hoodlums attacked party members, throwing the exercise into confusion. The exact cause of the violence was still unclear at the time of the report.
One of the victims was identified as Raphael Adetimehin, believed to be the brother of the Ondo APC Chairman, Ade Adetimehin. He was reportedly attacked at his ward in Idanre.
Confirming the incident, Ade Adetimehin said his brother was shot and macheted by suspected thugs who allegedly mistook him for the party chairman.
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“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 said.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said he would respond later when contacted.
The latest violence comes barely 24 hours after another incident where suspected political thugs disrupted a stakeholders’ meeting at the APC secretariat in Akure, leaving several members injured and forcing the meeting to end abruptly.
The recurring clashes have raised fresh concerns over growing tension within the Ondo APC ahead of its internal restructuring process.
