Ondo APC Primary: Thugs Attack Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire at Polling Station

—Gunshots, panic as armed men disrupt primaries

By Dayo Johnson Akure

Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN, representing Ondo Central, narrowly escaped harm after armed thugs attacked him and his supporters at his polling unit during the All Progressives Congress senatorial primary.

The attack occurred at Okilisa Ward 5 in Akure. Eyewitnesses said the gunmen stormed the venue, fired sporadically, and shot at the senator’s vehicle after it became clear he was leading the vote count.

Party members on the queue, delegates, officials, and journalists scampered for safety. Some women were injured in the melee.

The disruption also caused panic at nearby Ebenezer Primary School. Parents rushed to pick up their children amid fears of stray bullets.

Security operatives intervened quickly and evacuated Adegbonmire from the venue, leading to a temporary halt of the exercise.

Speaking after the incident, Adegbonmire described the process as a “complete charade” and alleged widespread intimidation and violence targeted at his supporters across Ondo Central.

Adegbonmire said voting had started peacefully, with members lining up behind their preferred aspirants.

“When counting showed his line was in the lead, thugs invaded, fired shots, and assaulted supporters.

“My supporters were about 400 and there were three lines — mine in the middle, Taiwo Fasoranti’s on the right and Adu’s on the left.

“They started counting my line first because it was the longest.

“But while they were counting the other line and it became glaring that we were leading, thugs invaded the place, started shooting in the air and even shot at my car,” he said.

“I can show you the bullet marks. They were beating people and attempting to machete supporters. The whole process was disrupted.”

Adegbonmire said similar incidents were reported in Idanre, Akure North, and other wards in Akure South, where supporters were allegedly told to leave if they were not voting for a specific aspirant.

The senator said those behind the attacks were using Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s name, but he did not believe the governor was involved.

He said he had sent a message to the governor detailing what happened.

Adegbonmire urged the APC national leadership to intervene, arguing that the integrity of the primary had been compromised.

He also linked the violence to irregularities in last week’s House of Representatives primaries in the state.

“As far as I’m concerned, what we are witnessing is not an election. When voters are intimidated, attacked and prevented from voting freely, then it is a charade.

“The national body of the party must step into this immediately,” he said.

He asked his supporters to remain peaceful and document all incidents of intimidation and violence, saying he had instructed them not to retaliate.