Suspected Political Thugs Disrupt Ondo APC Factional Congress

……Journalists, Others Injured

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

The State Congress of All Progressive Congress, (APC) in Ondo state at the weekend turned bloody as some suspected people to be political thugs invaded the venue and disrupted the exercise, destroying properties and inflicted injuries on the people at the venue including journalists.

Several members of the party were beaten up blue black including a member of the House of Representatives who represents Idanre/Ifedore Federal constituency, Bamidele Baderinwa, with some loyalists of Senator Ajayi Boroffice.

Also, some journalists who are Correspondents of National dailies were beaten and sustained injuries during the violence.

Among journalists that were beaten blue black during the violence are, Damisi Ojo of the Nation, Olasunkanmi Elujoba Adaba 88.9fm, Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Daily Sun, Babatope Okeowo The Telegraph and the state NUJ Chairman, James Sowole.

Scores of men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, who were at the venue of the parallel congress could not do anything to stop the fracas.

The exercise which started at about, 9am was going on smoothly but the exercise stopped when the thugs arrived at the venue in eight vehicles with dangerous weapons and started throwing stones at everyone in sight. The window glasses of the hall were smashed with stones.

Two vehicles were destroyed during the violence.

The federal lawmaker had his white native dress torn to pieces. He was however whisked away from the scene by his security aides.

After chasing away the factional members, the thugs damaged some of the vehicles parked at the premises of the venue and set bonfires.  Shortly after the fracas, they left the scene.

The chairman of APC 5-man committee, Mr. Matthew Omegara, lauded the party for its maturity and peaceful manner which the congress was conducted, contrary to his presuppositions.

“When we were coming, we were sceptical of what we were going to meet,” he said, attributing the peace to the unity in the party, “I don’t think there is any space for any party to exist in Ondo State.”

According to him, he said they were in Ondo state to conduct peaceful and transparent congress.

Omegara said, “this is the only committee to conduct the Ondo APC congress, if there is any issues at the end of the exercise, let the appeal committee know for proper process”.

While speaking at the congress, governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu said Ondo APC remained united, saying that this are just beginning of progress in the party.

“We are a family, majority will decide what will happen at today’s congress and this is accredited congress”.

Meanwhile, the APC faction loyal to the state government, held its congress at the International Events and Culture Centre (The Dome), where 1,015 delegates were expected but only 1,001 delegates were accredited to vote for the party’s state executives.

While speaking during the congress, governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who identified and declared all the delegates as legitimate members of the party, said “there is no way in any human endeavour that you can have perfection. It is not possible.

He said, “The only perfect being is God. Therefore, I want to take responsibility for whatever happens here. If anybody sits at any other place, he or she is counterfeit.”

Akeredolu urged the party members to embrace the sportsmanship spirit and take whatever happened in good fate, using his experience as an illustration for failing the ministerial bid but later got the governorship seat.

“Whatever that happens here or whatever has happened in your ward, let us take it with equanimity. God has plans for us. Why are we worried? Whatever will be will be. Your own time, if it is not today, it will come.”

The former state Acting Chairman of the party, Engr. Ade Adetimehin was the sole candidate for the state chairmanship position, but was elected with 990 votes, while 11 votes kicked against him, promised to bring sanity to the party.

Adetimehin and Mr. Adesina Alaye emerged as the state chairman and secretary respectively, alongside other 35 other positions were elected unopposed.

Whereas, it was gathered that the other faction whose Congress was disrupted in the morning regrouped themselves in Igbara-Oke, the headquarters of Ifedore LGA and elected Otetubi as the factional chairman.