Just in: Commotion in APC: Thugs Invade Secretariat with Cutlasses, Injure Leaders in Ondo
By Olusegun HOSEA, Akure
16th February, 2026
It was dramatic today at the Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State when some alleged thugs invaded the party meeting with dangerous weapons such as cutlasses, guns and reportedly assaulted members of the party leadership. According to reports, the thugs invaded the premises and started shooting sporadically.
Ade Adetimehin, in his narration, said that when the thugs could not harm him, they descended on his driver and beat him into a coma. He said, “All they were saying was that they would kill, and they were shooting sporadically. Many of our members are in the hospital receiving treatment. When they realized they could not harm me, they went after my driver and beat him seriously. A lot of people were wounded.”
The incident that led to the commotion, according to reports, was related to the upcoming party congress, which is expected to produce new leaders who will pilot the affairs of the party for the coming years. The statement read: “Around this time yesterday, members of the Congress Committee came all the way from Abuja. About 13 of them met us at the party secretariat. We had a meeting with them. Those of us in attendance included myself, the Organising Secretary, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political and Legislative Matters.”
He further stated, “We were at the secretariat for about one and a half hours. Thereafter, the chairman of the committee suggested that we should hold a stakeholders’ meeting today and asked me to convene it. We both agreed to hold the meeting at 12 noon, and notices were sent out for everyone to attend.”
According to Ade Adetimehin, the caretaker party chairman, he spoke with the Governor about the meeting called by the committee, and the Governor agreed to it. “I called the chairman of the committee to send out the text message for the meeting. He agreed with me, and by 12:35 p.m., the hall was filled to capacity. I spoke with the Governor one-on-one about the meeting. We both agreed that after the meeting, myself and the committee members would meet with him, as it is their duty to inform us of the modalities for the congress and how it would be conducted.”
He also stated that the meeting was engulfed in crisis after he spoke with the Governor about his premonition that some aggrieved individuals were mobilizing to disrupt it. According to him, the Governor said such an incident could not happen under his watch. In his words: “After speaking with him, I told him I heard that some people were mobilizing to the secretariat to disrupt the meeting. He said such a thing could not happen under his watch and that he would take charge. I said we did not want violence. He said he would caution anyone involved.”
He further stated, “Thirty minutes later, the place was invaded by thugs armed with cutlasses and other weapons, allegedly led by the NURTW chairman, Odudu, among others. They beat up leaders and members, except those who supported them.”
Ade Adetimehin said he was dragged on the floor during the incident. “They dragged me on the floor. They took my two phones and my wristwatch from my pocket. The demand they made when they arrived was that they did not want the congress to hold.”
Meanwhile, the government has refuted the allegations of sending thugs to disrupt the political gathering in the state. In a statement personally signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Idowu Ajana, the Ondo State Government strongly refuted what it described as malicious and unfounded allegations that thugs were deployed to disrupt a recent political gathering.
The statement described the claims as false, misleading, and a calculated attempt to tarnish the reputation of the administration of Governor Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and the peaceful political climate currently enjoyed across Ondo State.
He further stated: “It is categorically stated that Governor Aiyedatiwa was neither aware of nor connected to the said meeting and could not have sanctioned any act of thuggery.” He emphasized that the Governor has consistently demonstrated exemplary leadership rooted in civility, inclusiveness, and democratic principles, adding that his track record reflects a strong aversion to violence and political intimidation in any form.
It was further noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State remains a disciplined and people-oriented political platform committed to constructive engagement. He stressed that numerous political meetings and stakeholder consultations have been conducted peacefully across the state without any record of disruption, underscoring the maturity and orderliness that define the party’s operations under Governor Aiyedatiwa’s leadership.
He reaffirmed that the Governor’s primary focus remains the delivery of good governance and the advancement of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The administration, he said, is committed to sustaining peace, strengthening democratic values, and accelerating development initiatives to improve the welfare and prosperity of all citizens of Ondo State.
The Ondo State Government therefore urged members of the public to disregard the allegations and remain confident in the administration’s commitment to peace, security, and democratic integrity. It also warned purveyors of falsehood to desist from spreading misinformation capable of undermining public trust and destabilizing the state’s political harmony.
The situation surrounding the proposed APC congress remains unclear for now.
