Political thugs suspected to be loyal to the members of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on Tuesday disrupted a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), held in Akure, Ondo State capital. 

The thugs reportedly armed with broken bottles, planks, machetes, stones, and other dangerous objects stormed the meeting venue and molested party officials, including party chairman, Ade Adetimehin. 

Witnesses alleged that the thugs working harrased, pushed out, and beat up Mr Adetimehin, who resisted the NURTW members from gaining access into the party’s office on the Ilesa Garage road in Akure.

Confirming the incident in a short video interview, Mr Adetimehin accused the members of the NURTW of violently disrupting a scheduled stakeholders meeting of the ruling party ahead of ward congresses. 

He accused the union members led by its Chairman, Ademola Odudu, of violently storming the party secretariat and attacked party members and officials during the meeting. 

“This morning, we (party members) all assembled at the party secretariat, the NURTW members led by the chairman, came in forcefully and beat everybody asking them to leave and said Governor Aiyedatiwa own the party, and nobody should challenge his authority.

“We told him we are not challenging his authority, and thereafter, he mobilise the NURTW members. They threw me into the ground, scattered my phone, took it away, and beat the hell out of me. I had reported to the commissioner of police day a day before that there is going to be a stakeholders meeting,” he said. 

Efforts to get Mr Odudu’s immediate reaction proved abortive as his mobile was not connecting. A message sent for reactions had yet to deliver as of the time this report was filed. 

However, the state police command said one person was injured during the attack on the party secretariat. 

In a statement, the state police spokesman, Jimoh Abayomi, explained that the police was able to restore calm and peace to the party secretariat following invasion by suspected armed thugs. 

Mr Abayomi added that the police had launched a probe into the disruption of the APC meeting. 

“The police command received a distress call, and we immediately swung into action, which led the deployment of our operatives to the scene, which is the APC secretariat along Ilesha Garage road. 

“Efforts of these operatives pave way, and they were able to restore calmness to the area. However, one person who sustained injury has been taken to the nearest hospital for medical treatment.

“The commissioner of police has already deployed tactical teams to ensure total security at the secretariat and its environs while investigations is ongoing,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the party condemned the violent attack on its members and the party secretariat, describing the development as an “unfortunate” and isolated incident unrelated to the forthcoming party congress.

In a statement by the party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, the APC said reports of “unidentified persons” invading the secretariat and disrupting activities came to its attention, stressing that the disturbance should not be linked to internal party processes.

The statement added that preliminary findings indicated that the crisis arose from an internal misunderstanding allegedly escalated by a few unscrupulous elements whose actions didn’t reflect its values, discipline, or leadership culture.

The party warned against attempts to politicise the incident or connect it to the scheduled congress, describing such claims as speculative and misleading.

It stated, “The party has commenced an internal review to ascertain the facts surrounding the incident. Appropriate measures will be taken based on verified findings.”