The Ondo APC ward congress violence has thrown the state chapter of the ruling party into turbulence after deadly clashes during local congresses left two people killed and several others seriously injured, intensifying calls for intervention from the party’s national leadership.
The violence erupted in Idanre Local Government Area, where hoodlums reportedly invaded the congress venue, firing sporadically and attacking participants with machetes. Vehicles were destroyed, and multiple party members sustained injuries while attempting to flee.
A Congress That Turned Deadly
Among those affected was Raphael Adetimehin, younger brother of the state party chairman, Ade Adetimehin, who was reportedly left in a coma after being attacked. Other victims suffered deep cuts and were hospitalised.
Party sources alleged that the attackers were linked to factional disputes over candidacies. Some injured leaders accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of sponsoring the disruption — a claim the governor has firmly denied.
The Ondo State Police Command confirmed fatalities and said investigations were underway.
Elders Call For Presidential Intervention
The PBAT Mandate Elders Forum, a group within the party, described the violence as an assault on the institutional integrity of the All Progressives Congress in the state.
At a press briefing in Akure, the forum urged President Bola Tinubu and the national leadership of the party to intervene decisively, warning that when leaders are attacked within party premises, democratic foundations are weakened.
The elders called for sanctions and structural discipline to prevent further deterioration.
Governor Denies Involvement
Governor Aiyedatiwa rejected allegations of involvement, attributing the violence to what he described as “miscreants” with vested interests in influencing the ward congress outcomes.
He stated that an earlier stakeholders’ meeting had been rescheduled and that the disruption stemmed from rival gatherings rather than an officially sanctioned party session.
The governor directed security agencies to arrest and prosecute those responsible, while urging aspirants to caution their supporters.
The Structural Fault Lines Beneath The Clash
Ward congresses form the bedrock of party structure, determining grassroots leadership and shaping delegate configurations for higher-level contests. When such processes turn violent, the impact reverberates beyond a single local government area.
Internal factionalism, candidate positioning and control of party machinery often converge at this stage, particularly in politically competitive states.
Security analysts note that recurring intra-party violence reflects deeper unresolved structural tensions rather than isolated breakdowns.
What This Signals For Party Stability
Ondo State remains politically strategic within the South-West. Escalating internal instability within the APC could affect cohesion ahead of broader electoral cycles.
The outcome of investigations — and whether national party leadership intervenes — may determine whether the crisis is contained or escalates into prolonged factional conflict.
For now, the Ondo APC ward congress violence stands as a stark reminder that internal party processes, when destabilised, can quickly evolve into broader questions about organisational stability and political discipline.
This is IDNN. Independent. Digital. Uncompromising.
