News
Commotion As Gunshots Rock APC Senatorial Primary Venue
The atmosphere was chaotic earlier today, Monday, during the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election for Ondo Central Senatorial District as suspected thugs disrupted the exercise with sporadic gunshots at Ward 5, Ebenezer African Church Primary School, Amudipe Street, Akure.
The incident forced party members, journalists and residents around the area to flee for safety while voting was ongoing at the venue, which also serves as the polling unit of incumbent senator, Adeniyi Adegbonmire.
Other aspirants in the contest include former Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Taiwo Fasoranti, and retired military officer and legal practitioner, Olumuyiwa Adu.
Panic reportedly broke out after armed youths stormed the venue and fired gunshots into the air, forcing teachers and parents within the premises of African Church Primary School and St. Peters African Church Primary School to hurriedly evacuate pupils.
Journalists and party supporters were also seen scaling fences and running for cover as the exercise was abruptly disrupted.
Reacting to the incident, Senator Adegbonmire described the primary election as “a complete charade,” alleging that the violence was deliberately orchestrated to stop his supporters from voting after it became obvious he was leading at the polling unit.
He further alleged that the attackers shot at his vehicle, leaving visible bullet marks on it.
The senator also claimed that similar incidents were recorded in other parts of the senatorial district, alleging that supporters of certain aspirants were openly intimidated and prevented from participating in the exercise.
Adegbonmire called on the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress( APC) to intervene, describing the development as a deliberate attempt to manipulate the outcome of the primary election.
“The same thing happened last week, where voters were intimidated in the House of Reps primaries. Now we are witnessing this again in the Senate. So clearly, it’s a pattern and something has to be done about it,” he said.
Also reacting, Adu dismissed the exercise as a sham, alleging that armed youths openly threatened delegates during the primary.
He, however, said he restrained his supporters from retaliating in order to avoid violence, stressing that no political ambition was worth bloodshed.
Adu warned that recurring violence during APC primaries in Ondo State could deepen internal divisions within the party and negatively affect its future electoral fortunes if not urgently addressed.
Former Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has shared an amusing anecdote about the unique injury treatment preferred by his Nigerian ex-teammates, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi.
Iheanacho and Ndidi became integral members of the Foxes squad after joining in 2017, playing a crucial role in the club’s historic 2021 FA Cup victory.
The duo shared a strong bond with Vardy during their time at the King Power Stadium, often engaging in light-hearted banter with their teammates.
Vardy, a Leicester City legend after 13 years with the club, departed last summer for Serie A side Cremonese. Iheanacho and Ndidi have also since moved on from the Foxes.
Speaking on a recent podcast, Vardy recounted how the Super Eagles stars had a peculiar remedy for minor injuries.
He explained that Iheanacho and Ndidi would insist on using a special “juju cream” brought back from Nigeria, refusing any other oils or balms offered by the club’s medical staff.
“They used to get injured, just little knocks, then they’d go back to Nigeria for one day literally, come back, and then they’ve got a nice big tub of juju cream,” Vardy said.
“That was the only thing that the masseuses were allowed to massage on the injured areas. They used to tell us that they used to get it from a Nigerian witch doctor.”
While Vardy’s story adds a humorous, if slightly controversial, layer to the players’ time at the club, the “juju cream” was likely part of a running joke.
Ndidi later clarified on social media that the substance was simply local shea butter, known as ‘ori’ in Nigeria.
Some aspirants loyal to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who failed to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) tickets in the recently concluded National Assembly primaries, have approached the court to challenge the outcome of the exercise.
The aggrieved aspirants are challenging the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the results of the primaries and the list of candidates submitted by the party to the electoral body.
Report quoted sources within the party as saying the aspirants decided to seek judicial redress after expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome of the primaries.
The aspirants have reportedly engaged the services of the law firm of Remi Olatubora, SAN, to challenge the outcome of the exercise, the report also mentioned.
Those involved include Gbenga Elegbeleye (Ondo North Senatorial District), Dr Taiwo Fasoranti (Ondo Central Senatorial District), Leke Akingboye (Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency), Rasaq Obe (Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency), Kayode Ijalana (Owo/Ose Federal Constituency), Oyerinmade Matthew (Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency), and Olumuyiwa Daramola (Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency).
The legal action has reportedly generated concerns among some party stakeholders, who fear it could affect the APC’s preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has slammed the Federal Government over its gifts of houses to judges.
Speaking at the Housing TV Africa on Thursday, Falana demanded the provision of the law that stipulated such a gesture.
He charged the Federal Government to also build houses for university professors and other civil and public servants, noting that what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander.
“”We have got to a stage in the country where we have to challenge the special privileges given to the rich and top public officers in the country.
“I was very sad when I saw that the Federal Government was handing over the keys of houses to judges, and I asked myself, ‘Under what law are we operating?’ Because it’s discriminatory and illegal.
“You treat everyone equally in our country. So you can’t take out judges. Judges are entitled to accommodation by the way. They must live comfortably and we’ll secured.
“But, other citizens must be equally provided for. If you don’t do it, you can be challenged, and that is going to happen very soon because what is good for the goose is good for the gander,” he said.
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