Pandemonium erupted in the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat along the Oyemekun road as suspected political thugs disrupted the announcement of the results late on Sunday.
Party sources alleged that Hon. Tajudeen Adefisoye, popularly known as “Small Alhaji,” who was screened out from the contest, led suspected thugs to disrupt the APC primary process, triggering panic and forcing party members and officials to vacate the party secretariat in Akure.
The disruption, which reportedly occurred during the collation and announcement phase of the House of Representatives primaries, has further deepened controversy surrounding the exercise.
According to party insiders and a leaked audio conversation, tension escalated when the primary committee was allegedly directed to halt proceedings.
A source in the audio claimed that the situation became chaotic as the committee prepared to announce results.
A party source said, “A disqualified aspirant, Small Alhaji, allegedly mobilised some thugs to the venue, and the atmosphere became tense. People were leaving because nobody wanted the situation to get out of hand.”
The source claimed that confusion started after a committee member was allegedly contacted by telephone and instructed to stop the process.
“I was live on Facebook when the announcement started. They were about to call the federal constituency results when Suma Aladji came and said somebody was on the phone directing that the process should be stopped.”
According to the recording, some party members initially believed the instruction came from Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa before allegedly discovering otherwise.
“We all thought it was the governor, but later realised it was allegedly coming from the Commissioner for Finance, Omowunmi Isaac.
The allegations could not be independently verified as of press time, while no official response had been received from either the Finance Commissioner or Adefisoye regarding the claims.
The source further alleged that suspected thugs had been positioned around the secretariat and were issuing threats that heightened fears among party members and stakeholders.
“They had already mobilised some boys from the ward. They were shouting and threatening to disrupt everything.”
The development reportedly forced some party leaders, electoral committee members, and supporters to leave the APC secretariat as tension mounted.
Adefisoye was among seven aspirants earlier disqualified by the party ahead of the primaries. However, his reported presence and alleged involvement in activities surrounding the exercise have continued to generate debate within the party.
Meanwhile, the APC in Ondo State has moved to address grievances arising from the disputed exercise.
In a statement issued by the party’s State Secretary, Alex Kalejaye, the APC announced the constitution of a Primary Appeal Committee to entertain complaints from aggrieved aspirants.
Kalejaye said: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State wishes to inform the general public, and indeed House of Representatives aspirants, who are displeased with the primary process thus far, that the Primary Appeal Committee will be ready to entertain complaints today at the State Secretariat.”
The party urged aspirants to make use of the committee established “for the purpose of fair play and justice” and assured that it would sit until all complaints had been addressed.
The latest development comes amid growing internal tension within the Ondo APC over the conduct of the House of Representatives primaries and concerns over the credibility of the process.
