Chaos broke out during the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election in Ekiti State, forcing electoral officials to abruptly declare the exercise inconclusive after violence disrupted voting.
The incident happened at Ward 10, Fajuyi Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, where supporters of two aspirants — Olushola Fatoba and Tope Ogunleye (popularly known as RST) — had gathered for the exercise.
According to eyewitness accounts, tension escalated before voting even began as both camps arrived with a large number of supporters and agents, creating a highly charged atmosphere.
The situation reportedly worsened when suspected thugs believed to be loyal to one of the aspirants stormed the venue, allegedly carrying dangerous weapons including canes and firearms, in an apparent attempt to intimidate opponents.
Despite the tense atmosphere, supporters of both candidates insisted on staying, chanting solidarity songs as voting eventually commenced under heavy security concerns.
Observers claimed that Tope Ogunleye appeared to enjoy stronger support among party members present, which allegedly increased tension among rival camp supporters.
The situation reportedly degenerated when Fatoba’s supporters allegedly suspected they were losing ground, leading to a violent clash between both groups.
During the chaos, several supporters and agents were attacked. Mr. Sunday, an agent of Ogunleye, was assaulted, while Mr. Femi Ogunleye was also beaten and had his Tecno Spark 9 phone taken away.
A female supporter, Mrs. Oluwaseun Osamuwa, was also reportedly attacked, with her Apple smartwatch stolen during the melee. Both injured individuals were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Following the outbreak of violence, electoral officials immediately suspended the process and declared the Ward 10 primary election inconclusive.
The incident has sparked fresh concerns about violence, intimidation, and thuggery in internal party elections, with stakeholders calling for investigations and stronger security measures.
Political observers are now urging the APC leadership and relevant authorities to ensure accountability and protect the integrity of future primaries to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
