By Adesakin Adefemi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congress in Idanre, Ondo State, was on Wednesday marred by violent clashes that left two persons dead and five others injured, casting a shadow over the party’s grassroots electoral exercise.
The incident occurred at Odode-Idanre, headquarters of Idanre Local Government Area, as the ruling party conducted congresses across its 203 wards in the state.
Preliminary reports indicate that the unrest was a spillover of Tuesday’s disruption at the party’s secretariat in Akure, where suspected hoodlums invaded a stakeholders’ meeting and assaulted party leaders.
Among those targeted was Raphael Adetimehin, younger brother of the state caretaker chairman, who sustained machete wounds after assailants allegedly mistook him for his brother due to their resemblance.
Eyewitnesses said Raphael’s vehicle was set ablaze, and he was rushed to the General Hospital in Idanre, where he remains in a coma. Ade Adetimehin, the state caretaker chairman, claimed the assault was politically motivated and sponsored by hoodlums, whom he described as allies of Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo.
“They targeted my brother because they thought he was me. They shot him several times but bullets could not penetrate, so he was cut several times with a cutlass,” Ade Adetimehin said. A family source, however, said Raphael may not have survived the attack, adding that two other men including one driving a Venza were fatally shot during the chaos.
The identities of the additional victims were still being confirmed as of the time of this report. The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the violence, adding that five unidentified persons were attacked and a vehicle set on fire. “Three victims sustained varying degrees of injury and are currently receiving medical attention while two others were confirmed dead at the hospital,” the police public relations officer said.
Adebowale Lawal, the State Commissioner of Police, alongside Oluyemi Ibiloye, the NSCDC Commandant, led a combined security team to the scene, restoring order. The police said investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
The APC ward congress, intended to be a democratic exercise to elect party officials at the grassroots level, was overshadowed by the bloodshed, raising concerns about political violence in Ondo State. Stakeholders have called for calm and urged security agencies to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
Political analysts say the incident highlights deepening intra-party tensions within the Ondo APC, warning that such violence could threaten the party’s cohesion ahead of future elections. They stressed the need for leaders to prioritize peace and internal democracy to avoid further escalation.
Residents of Idanre expressed shock and fear over the incident, urging government and security agencies to take decisive steps to prevent a recurrence. Many described the violence as a painful reminder of the dangers of political thuggery, calling for justice for the victims and their families.
