Suspected thugs on Tuesday invaded the Ondo State secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC), disrupting a pre-congress stakeholders’ meeting and leaving several party leaders injured, including the state chairman and other top officials.

The attack reportedly occurred during a gathering of party stakeholders ahead of the state congress. Eyewitnesses said the assailants, armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons, stormed the venue and assaulted attendees, causing chaos and forcing many to flee for safety.

One of the witnesses, Yetunde Adeyanju, said the attackers claimed allegiance to the state governor and declared that no congress would be allowed to hold. According to the witness, the group issued threats and beat participants they believed were not aligned with them. Adeyanju alleged that she was assaulted, dragged on the floor, and dispossessed of her phones, money and wristwatch during the incident.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Idowu Ajanaku, denied any link between the governor and the attack, describing the allegation as unfounded and misleading. In a statement, he maintained that the governor was neither aware of nor connected to the meeting and could not have approved any act of violence or political intimidation.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, said officers responded promptly after receiving a distress call and restored order at the secretariat. He added that tactical teams had been deployed to the area while investigations continue.

Another eyewitness said several party leaders were brutalized during the invasion, including the APC state chairman, Ade Adetimehin; a board commissioner of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Otito Atikase; and a former Commissioner for Sports, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye. Those injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Adetimehin also confirmed the attack and alleged that the thugs were sponsored to disrupt the stakeholders’ meeting. Police authorities said efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible.