Hoodlums attacked the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Engr Ade Adetimehin, along with other party officials.The assailants stormed the party’s secretariat in Akure on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, according to Daily Trust reports. Others injured during the attack included the state representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Hon Otito Atikase; former lawmaker Hon Success Torhukerhojo; former Deputy Speaker Hon Abayomi Akinruntan; the chairman’s driver, Friday Ogbaide; former chairman of Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo local government, Hon Dayo Akinsuroju; and former commissioner Hon Saka-Yusuf Ogunleye.
The violence reportedly erupted when the thugs stormed a routine stakeholders’ meeting of the APC, forcing members to flee in panic and abruptly halting the gathering. Eyewitnesses said the attackers were armed with sticks, machetes, and other crude weapons, shouting and threatening participants. Attendees scattered to escape, with several taking cover in nearby buildings and others leaving the area entirely. Residents nearby described scenes of confusion as vehicles sped off and people tried to leave before the situation escalated further.
Reacting to the attack, Adetimehin said the stakeholders’ meeting was meant to prepare for the Ward Congress of the party, scheduled to begin on Wednesday. He explained that members of the Congress Committee sent from Abuja required the meeting, which was disrupted by the hoodlums. The APC chairman said he was thrown to the ground and beaten severely by the attackers, whom he identified as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). “They came in force this morning and ordered everybody to leave. They claimed the governor owns the party. We told them we were not challenging anybody’s authority, but they attacked us. They dragged me to the floor, took my two phones and wristwatch,” he said. He added that the attackers were making threats, with some party members requiring hospital treatment, and his driver was also beaten seriously.
A witness, Adeyanju, described seeing the hoodlums arrive shouting that they were sent by Aiyedatiwa and that no Congress should take place in Ondo State. “The governor is in charge. Anybody who talks about Congress in Ondo State will be assassinated,” he said. Another party chieftain, Asiwaju Muyiwa Asagunla, condemned the attack, calling on the governor and his team not to use political thugs to settle scores.
He described how approximately 200 NURTW members forced everyone to flee, causing injuries and chaos inside the secretariat. “I have never seen this in the politics of Ondo State. What they are bringing is a dangerous dimension. It is very shocking how they embarrassed the chairman today,” he said.Footage from the incident showed the APC chairman shouting that he had been beaten mercilessly. The governor’s team had not responded to the attack at the time of reporting.
Source: https://m.lindaikejisblog.com/
