Panic erupted in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Monday following sporadic gunshots during the All Progressives Congress senatorial primary election in Ward 5, Oke-Lisa/Amudipe area of Akure South Local Government Area.
The disruption, allegedly caused by armed political thugs who invaded the voting venue, created confusion among party members and residents in the area.
The incident reportedly forced parents to hurriedly withdraw their children from nearby schools, including Ebenezer Primary School and St. Peter A/C Primary School, Amudipe, over fears of possible violence.
A serving senator and aspirant in the primary election, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, was said to have narrowly escaped harm after gunmen allegedly shot at his vehicle during the chaos.
Speaking with journalists after the incident, Adegbonmire described the exercise as a “charade,” alleging that the disruption occurred when it became obvious he was leading in the voting process.
According to him, party officials had directed members to queue behind their preferred aspirants before votes were counted openly.
“I was at my ward, Okelisa Ward 5, Akure South Local Government, for the APC senatorial primary. They asked everyone to line up and they started counting,” he said.
“They counted my supporters first because my queue was the longest. I had over 300 votes ahead. But while they were counting another aspirant’s supporters, thugs invaded the venue, shot into the air and also shot at my vehicle,” the senator alleged.
He further claimed that his vehicle was hit by bullets during the attack.
However, another senatorial aspirant, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti, who participated in the exercise at Ward 7, Ijomu Akure, described the process in his area as peaceful.
The development has heightened tension surrounding the APC primary election in the state, with concerns over security and the conduct of the exercise.
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