Armed men suspected to be political thugs disrupted the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election in the Ondo Central Senatorial District, triggering widespread panic and forcing participants to flee.
The attack occurred at Ward 5, inside the premises of Ebenezer African Church Primary School on Amudipe Street in Akure, Ondo State.
The ward serves as the voting point of the incumbent senator, Adeniyi Adegbonmire.
Other contenders in the contest are Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s reported consensus candidate, Taiwo Fasoranti, and retired military officer and legal practitioner, Olumuyiwa Adu.
Panic reportedly started when armed youths stormed the venue and fired shots into the air, causing teachers and parents within nearby African Church Primary School and St. Peters African church primary school to quickly evacuate pupils.
Journalists and party supporters were also seen scaling fences and running for cover as the exercise was abruptly disrupted.
Reacting to the incident, Senator Adegbonmire described the primary as “a complete charade,” alleging that the violence was deliberately staged to suppress his supporters after he was leading at the polling unit.
He also claimed that attackers shot at his vehicle, leaving visible bullet marks.
The senator further alleged that similar disruptions occurred in other parts of the senatorial district, accusing supporters of rival aspirants of intimidation.
He called on the national leadership of the APC to urgently intervene, saying the situation reflected a growing pattern of violence in party primaries.
Olumuyiwa Adu, another aspirant also condemned the exercise, describing it as a sham and alleging that armed youths threatened delegates during voting.
Adu warned that repeated violence during APC primaries in Ondo State could deepen internal divisions within the party if not addressed.
