Ondo APC chair Adetimehin assaulted as suspected thugs invade stakeholders’ meeting
The Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Ade Adetimehin, has accused members of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) of disrupting a scheduled stakeholders’ meeting of
The Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Ade Adetimehin, has accused members of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) of disrupting a scheduled stakeholders’ meeting of the party ahead of ward congresses.
Adetimehin, who spoke to reporters yesterday shortly after an attack on the party secretariat on Ilesha Garage Road, alleged that NURTW members led by their Chairman, Ademola Odudu, stormed the party secretariat and attacked members and officials during the meeting.
He accused the Odudu-led NURTW members of bringing thugs to assault and beat him up, while forcing their ways into the party secretariat, harassing everyone.
“Yesterday, the national secretariat of our party called for a stakeholders’ meeting and asked us to assemble at 2pm. We did and they sent for the congress committee and appeal committee.
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“We all met at the party secretariat with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative and Party Affairs, Kolawole Babatunde. We agreed that the stakeholders’ meeting would be held today (Tuesday).”
“Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa called me and narrated the whole thing. This morning, we all assembled at the party secretariat. The NURTW members led by the chairman came in forcefully and beat everybody, asking them to leave. He said the governor owns the party and nobody should challenge his authority.”
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“We told him we are not challenging his authority, and thereafter, he mobilised the NURTW members. They threw me on the ground, scattered my phone, took it away and beat the hell out of me. I informed the commissioner of police day before yesterday that there is going to be a stakeholders’ meeting,” the party chairman said.
Confirming the incident, police spokesman DSP Jimoh Abayomi said the command had restored peace to the party’s secretariat.
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He added that the police had launched investigation into the incident.
APC has condemned the violent attack on its members and secretariat, describing the development as an “unfortunate” and isolated incident unrelated to the forthcoming party congress.
In a statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, APC said reports of unidentified persons invading the secretariat and disrupting activities had come to its attention, stressing that the disturbance should not be linked to internal party processes.
According to the statement, preliminary findings suggested the crisis arose from an internal misunderstanding allegedly escalated by “a few unscrupulous elements,” whose actions do not 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 said an internal review had begun, to establish the full facts, assuring members that necessary actions would be taken based on verified findings.
APC lauded Governor Aiyedatiwa for his swift intervention, noting that he immediately directed security personnel to the secretariat to restore order.
