State Chairman Beaten as Thugs Invade APC Secretariat During Meeting

Suspected armed thugs on Tuesday attacked Ade Adetimehin, caretaker chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, at the party’s secretariat.

Witnesses said Adetimehin was beaten and his mobile phone taken during a stakeholders’ meeting convened ahead of the ward congresses. Party members reportedly fled the premises as the assailants, armed with sticks and machetes, forced their way into the venue and halted proceedings.

Adetimehin alleged that members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), led by Ademola Odudu, carried out the attack. He further claimed the action was carried out on the orders of Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo State.

According to the caretaker chairman, the attackers knocked him to the ground, slapped and beat him while declaring that the governor “owns the party” and opposing plans to hold the congress.

“They pushed me down, beat me and took my phone. I have reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police,” he said.

He added that the party’s national secretariat had earlier constituted a congress and appeal committee, with stakeholders agreeing to meet on Tuesday before the disruption.

In a statement, Steve Otaloro, APC director of media and publicity in Ondo, described the incident as an internal misunderstanding escalated by a few individuals whose conduct did not represent the party.

Otaloro rejected suggestions that the disruption was linked to the forthcoming congress, describing such claims as speculative. He said the governor directed security personnel to the secretariat to restore order and confirmed that activities had resumed.

The party reiterated its commitment to conducting a peaceful and credible ward congress.