Violence and widespread disruption on Monday marred the senatorial primary election of the All Progressives Congress (All Progressives Congress) in Ondo State, as the exercise descended into chaos in parts of the state with reports of attacks on voters.
The exercise, which was conducted across various wards, was violently disrupted in several locations, particularly in Ondo Central Senatorial District, where armed thugs invaded polling areas, dispersed voters and halted voting in some units.
A total of 16 aspirants contested for the three senatorial tickets across Ondo North, Ondo Central and Ondo South districts. Ondo North had five aspirants, Ondo Central had three contenders, while Ondo South recorded the highest number of aspirants in the race.
One of the Ondo Central aspirants, Olumuyiwa Adu, said the violence was targeted at preventing his supporters and those of some other contestants from participating in the process.
He alleged that armed men stormed polling centres, chased away voters and created panic that forced the suspension of activities in affected areas.
Adu, however, said he restrained his supporters from retaliating in order to prevent further escalation of violence, warning that the development could deepen internal divisions within the party and undermine its strength ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a separate reaction, the incumbent senator representing Ondo Central, Senator Adeniyi Adegbomire, described the exercise as a “charade,” alleging that armed thugs invaded his ward in Okilisa Ward 5, Akure South Local Government Area, during the sorting and counting of votes.
Adegbomire said his supporters were violently prevented from participating in parts of the exercise and insisted that similar incidents were recorded across several wards in the senatorial district.
He called on the national leadership of the APC to urgently intervene and ensure that the process was not allowed to stand.
As of the time of filing this report, the Ondo State chapter of the APC had yet to issue an official response, while security presence remained heavy in several affected areas.
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