Aiyedatiwa Denies Role in APC Attack, Blames Miscreants

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has denied allegations linking him to the attack on leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, describing the incident as the handiwork of “miscreants” with vested interests ahead of the party’s ward congresses.

The attack, which occurred at the party secretariat, reportedly left the state APC chairman, Ade Adetimehin, and several other party chieftains injured and hospitalised. Some party leaders had accused the governor of sponsoring thugs to disrupt a stakeholders’ meeting.

Addressing journalists after a stakeholders’ meeting with members of the APC congress committees from the party’s national secretariat, Aiyedatiwa dismissed the claims, insisting he had no involvement in the violence.

The governor explained that an initial plan to hold the meeting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday was not concluded, noting that he requested the time be moved to 2 p.m. to enable him, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly and the Deputy Governor to attend.

“At about 11 a.m., I received a call from the party chairman regarding a stakeholders’ meeting. I approved it but asked that it be fixed for 2 p.m. because I was attending the 50th birthday of a cabinet member who is also a stakeholder,” Aiyedatiwa said.

He added that stakeholders’ meetings are traditionally attended by top state officials and described the earlier gathering as impromptu due to the ongoing ward and local government congresses.

According to him, he was later informed about the presence of suspected troublemakers around the party secretariat. He said he immediately directed that the Commissioner of Police be contacted and also personally called to ensure adequate security deployment.

“The secretariat was secured before we arrived, and we eventually had a peaceful meeting after the miscreants were chased away,” he stated.

Aiyedatiwa attributed the violence to internal factional disputes over candidacies, stressing that the clash involved rival supporters and was not an officially sanctioned party meeting.

Earlier, the Ward Congress Committee, led by Margaret Aruruenu (Chairman) and Smart Iheazor (Secretary), briefed party leaders on preparations for the congresses, assuring members that the process would be conducted in accordance with the APC constitution and established guidelines.

Party leaders, including Tolu Babaleye (North), Ifedayo Abegunde (Central) and Ola Oguntimehin (South), commended the peaceful conduct of the screening exercise.

The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, also praised the congress committees and expressed confidence that the ward congresses would be conducted peacefully across the state.