Yilwatda urged to probe violence, disruption of APC stakeholders’ meeting in Ondo
Leaders and elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national leadership of the party to order an immediate
Leaders and elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national leadership of the party to order an immediate investigation into the violence that marred Tuesday’s stakeholders’ meeting of the party in the state.
The leaders under the aegis of the PBAT Mandate Elders Forum, said the disturbance, which led to the assault and public humiliation of the state party chairman, Ade Adetimehin, and other leaders, threatened the party's unity and undermined democratic values.
Recall that suspected political thugs had invaded the stakeholders' meeting of the APC held at the party secretariat on the Ilesha Garage road in Akure, injuring scores of members.
But addressing journalists on Wednesday in Akure, the Chairman of the group, Chief Erastus Akeju, appealed directly to President Tinubu to deploy his "moral authority" to restore calm and ensure accountability.
Akeju, who was represented by Ademola Ijabiyi, expressed displeasure at the violent attack by suspected thugs on the party’s leaders during the meeting.
"We respectfully call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Leader of our great party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose democratic journey has long been anchored in courage and institution building, to lend his moral authority toward restoring calm, ensuring accountability, and reaffirming that violence can never be a pathway to political relevance," he said.
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Akeju also urged the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, and the members of the National Working Committee to act swiftly and impartially by instituting a thorough probe and applying sanctions where necessary.
"There must be a thorough investigation, appropriate sanctions where necessary, and clear directives that reinforce discipline and internal security across party structures. Justice must be firm yet fair, because discipline without fairness breeds resentment, while fairness without discipline invites disorder. Violence has no place in democracy.’
The forum described the attack on Adetimehin and other stakeholders as “most unfortunate and wholly unacceptable," he added, warning that political disagreements must never descend into lawlessness.
According to him, the APC was built on dialogue, persuasion, and collective purpose, not intimidation or coercion.
Akeju stressed that dishonouring elders and leaders within the party structure weakened the moral fabric of political engagement and set a dangerous precedent.
"Let it be stated clearly: intimidation, thuggery, and violence have no place in a democratic environment. Our party was built on dialogue and collective purpose, not on fear."
The elders, however, expressed concern over what they described as emerging factions and rival tendencies within the party, noting that such divisions could distract from the broader objective of consolidating support for the President ahead of the 2027 general elections.
They warned that undue rivalries may be fueling tensions in the state chapter and called for unity of purpose.
"There is no basis for the emergence of factions within a party that presently has one overriding preoccupation - the re-election of President Tinubu. Any factor that threatens the unity and peace of our party must be condemned."
While demanding justice, the group appealed to members and supporters to remain calm and avoid retaliation, urging aggrieved parties to pursue lawful and peaceful channels in resolving disputes.
"As we look toward the 2027 general elections, we must remember that electoral success is not secured by intimidation but earned through credibility, service, and unity of purpose. Ondo State must never become a theatre of political hostility."
