Tension erupted on Monday during the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary for Ondo Central Senatorial District after suspected political thugs reportedly invaded the voting venue and fired gunshots in Akure.
The violence occurred at Ward 5, Ebenezer African Church Primary School on Amudipe Street, forcing party members, journalists and residents nearby to scamper for safety as the exercise was underway.
The polling centre also serves as the voting unit of the incumbent senator representing Ondo Central, Adeniyi Adegbonmire.
Other contenders in the primary include former Ondo State Secretary to the Government, Taiwo Fasoranti, and retired military officer and lawyer, Olumuyiwa Adu.
Witnesses said panic spread across the area after armed youths stormed the venue and began shooting into the air, creating chaos within and around the school premises.
The incident reportedly forced teachers and parents at both African Church Primary School and St. Peters African Church Primary School to hurriedly evacuate pupils for safety.
Journalists covering the exercise and several party supporters were also seen jumping fences and running for cover as the primary was abruptly interrupted.
Reacting after the incident, Senator Adegbonmire described the exercise as fraudulent and accused political opponents of sponsoring the violence to stop his supporters from casting their votes.
According to him, the disruption began after it became clear he was gaining strong support at the polling unit.
The senator further alleged that gunmen attacked his vehicle during the chaos, leaving bullet holes on the car.
Adegbonmire also claimed that reports of intimidation and attacks surfaced from other parts of the senatorial district, with supporters of some aspirants allegedly prevented from participating in the election.
He called on the national leadership of the APC to step in, warning that the repeated violence during party primaries could damage the credibility of the process.
“The same pattern played out during the House of Representatives primaries last week where voters were intimidated. Now it has happened again during the Senate primary. This cannot continue unchecked,” he said.
Another aspirant, Olumuyiwa Adu, also criticised the exercise, describing it as compromised and lacking fairness.
He alleged that armed youths openly threatened delegates during the election but said he instructed his supporters not to respond violently in order to avoid bloodshed.
Adu warned that the growing violence surrounding APC primaries in Ondo State could worsen internal crises within the party and affect its future electoral chances if urgent action is not taken.
