Violence disrupted the collation and announcement of results from the All Progressives Congress (APC), House of Representatives primaries in Ondo State after suspected political thugs invaded the party secretariat in Akure.
The incident forced security operatives to evacuate members of the seven-man National Assembly Primary Election Committee led by Hon. Iboroma Harry Dabibi from the venue.
Ondo APC Chairman, Kolawole Babatunde, party officials, delegates, electoral officers, and supporters reportedly fled through the rear exit of the secretariat as tension escalated.
Disqualified Aspirant Allegedly Linked to Disruption
Sources at the venue alleged that the thugs were mobilised by a disqualified aspirant seeking to stop the announcement of results.
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Eyewitnesses said the group stormed the secretariat and ordered the committee chairman to suspend the exercise.
“It was a disqualified aspirant who mobilised thugs to the venue, and the atmosphere became tense,” a source said.
“People started leaving because nobody wanted the situation to get out of hand.”
How Chaos Began
According to party sources, confusion erupted after a member of the committee allegedly received a phone call directing that the collation process should be halted.
One witness said the committee was already announcing results when the instruction came in.
“I was live on Facebook when the announcement started,” the source said.
“They were about to announce the result of a federal constituency when someone on the phone instructed that the process should stop.
“At first, many people thought the instruction came from the governor, but later it was alleged that it came from another official within the state government.”
Another source claimed the thugs arrived at the secretariat before committee members and positioned themselves around the venue before the disturbance began.
“They mobilised boys from different wards. They were shouting and threatening people. It became unsafe for many people to remain there,” the source added.
APC Sets Up Appeal Committee
Meanwhile, the Ondo State chapter of the APC has inaugurated a Primary Appeal Committee to handle complaints arising from the exercise.
The party’s State Secretary, Alex Kalejaye, announced in a statement that the committee would begin sitting at the party secretariat from today.
“The APC in Ondo State wishes to inform House of Representatives aspirants who are dissatisfied with the primary process that the Primary Appeal Committee will be ready to entertain complaints at the State Secretariat,” the statement read.
The party added that the panel was established to ensure fairness and justice and would continue sitting until all petitions are addressed.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.