Some leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Somolu, Lagos, were attacked, injured and humiliated by suspected hoodlums during the party’s primary election on Saturday.
The hoodlums reportedly invaded Ward A and Ward B polling centres in Somolu and attacked some apex leaders sighted at the venues during the exercise.
The affected leaders were identified as Mr Ajibade Ajayi, former APC chairman of Ward D in Somolu, and Mr Primate Abraham, former APC chairman of Ward B in Somolu.
Others were Mr Yomi Olubamide, former Somolu APC LGA chairman, and Mr Samuel Oluyida, former APC chairman of Ward B in Somolu.
The Chairman of Somolu Local Government, Mr Abdulateef Asimi, expressed disappointment over the incident.
He described the development as unfortunate, noting that such an incident should not occur in the council area.
Asimi said the council authorities, in collaboration with security agencies, would thoroughly investigate the matter with a view to apprehending those responsible for the attack.
“My council is known for peace and orderliness, and I have sensitised APC members and supporters on the need to maintain decorum throughout the primary election process.
“It is, however, saddening to witness such an ugly development.
“We are on top of the situation and will do everything humanly possible to ensure peace and stability across all wards in the council area,” he said.
A police officer at the scene, who pleaded anonymity, said the situation had been brought under control, adding that normalcy had been restored in the affected area.
An eyewitness, Mr Tunde Adeyemi, said the attackers stormed the polling centre unexpectedly and began assaulting party leaders and supporters, causing panic among party members at the venue.
Another eyewitness, Mrs Bamidele Onabamiro, condemned the incident and urged party faithful to embrace peace and political tolerance.
She said violence should not be allowed to undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
Onabamiro also appealed to security agencies to intensify surveillance and ensure adequate protection for party members and electoral officials during subsequent political activities in the area.
Meanwhile, violence erupted at the APC primaries in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, forcing party members and supporters to flee for safety.
The incident occurred before the commencement of voting for the party’s House of Representatives primary for Mushin Constituency II.
Residents witnessed chaos following disagreements among supporters of some of the aspirants.
This led to a stampede as delegates and party faithful hurriedly left the scene.
Among the leading aspirants contesting the party’s ticket were Hon. Seye Oladejo and the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Oluwatoyin Fayinka, seeking re-election.
Other aspirants were also participating in the contest.
Several attendees expressed concern over the violence, urging party leaders and security agencies to ensure a peaceful and transparent process.
Party officials had yet to issue an official statement on the incident as at the time of filing this report.
The APC primaries are being held nationwide to select candidates for the 2027 general elections.
There was a heavy security presence in all the 13 wards in Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area of Ekiti State during the House of Representatives primary.
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun Corps, Department of State Security and other security agencies were seen moving round the polling units and other strategic locations to ensure law and order.
Security checkpoints were also mounted at strategic areas, especially identified flash points in the metropolis.
Party supporters were subjected to routine checks in some locations as part of measures to forestall security breaches.
The large presence of armed security operatives created an atmosphere of calmness across the wards as residents who had trooped out in large numbers waited eagerly for voting to commence.
Business activities around some ward centres were partially restricted as security operatives maintained strict surveillance around the voting venues.
Large turnout of party supporters were recorded in most of the Wards in Ado-Ekiti and other council areas visited, as voting through direct primary commenced around 10a.m.
Some of the Wards visited in Ado-Ekiti Local Government included Ado Wards 6 Okeiyinmi, Oke-Ila Ward 7, Ijoka Ward 5, Okesa Ward 10, Irona Ward 11, Igbehin Ward 12 and Idolofin Ward 3.
Others are Ire Ward 1 and 2 in Oye Local Government and Aisegba Ward in Gbonyin Local Government.
Speaking on the primary in Oye-Ekiti, the Chairperson of Oye Local Government Area, Mrs Clara Bamisile, praised security agencies for their efforts at maintaining law and order.
Bamisile also applauded the large turnout of party supporters, describing the development as “good for the development of our democracy.”
Bamisile urged the eligible voters to comport themselves and obey the rules and regulations guiding the party primary.
Similarly, the Chairman of Ikole Local Government, Mr Bayo Omojola, lauded party supporters for turning out enmass for the exercise.
Omojola expressed optimism that the primary would be peaceful, free and fair.
Meanwhile, an aspirant for House of Representatives primary election, Mushin Federal Constituency I, Mr Adeleke Opeodu, has called for a peaceful and credible exercise, warning against manipulation, intimidation and political extortion.
Opeodu made the call on Saturday in Lagos during the party’s direct primary election.
He said no individual should be allowed to disrupt the process or violate the constitutional rights of eligible party members.
“No one should give room for manipulation, political extortion and rights abuse because all eligible citizens are protected by the Nigerian Constitution against acts that breach their fundamental human rights,” he said.
Opeodu urged his supporters to remain peaceful and vigilant in defending democratic principles throughout the exercise.
He expressed the confidence of emerging victorious at the end of the primary.
Also speaking, a delegate, Mr Taofeek Adaranijo, said the adoption of direct primaries had made the contest more competitive and less dependent on elite endorsements.
According to him, aspirants are now relying more on grassroots acceptance to secure victory.
“There is serious lobbying everywhere now because every aspirant understands that ordinary party members will determine the outcome,” he said.
The exercise began amid tight security, with voting materials, delegates and party faithful arriving early at the venue.
The APC National Working Committee (NWC) had postponed the House of Representatives primaries for the 2027 general elections from May 15 to May 16.
Some party members, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the outcome of the Mushin primary could significantly influence the political direction of the constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
They noted that Mushin remains strategically important in Lagos grassroots politics and a stronghold of the ruling party.
The exercise in Ward C1, Alimosho Local Government Area, was disrupted as party faithful bicker over candidate’s choice.
The constituency seat is being contested between Mr Ganiyu Ayuba and Mrs Adebisi Adebajo with supporters across both divide.
About 1.45 p.m., at the arrival of Alimosho Local Government Chairman, Mr Akintunde Johnson, at the ward, party faithful began chanting the name of their preferred candidate.
Hence, the disruption of the party members waiting to cast their votes at the venue.
Speaking on the development, the immediate past APC Chairman at Alimosho, Mr Tosin Fatoki, said that the election process would no longer hold.
“The primaries election will no longer hold at this ward, with the intense division among party faithful on their preferred candidate.
“At the arrival of the Alimosho LGA chairman, you can observe upheaval among the erstwhile patient party members.
“With this upheaval, a lot of them have been dispersed, so no primaries can hold here today,” Fatoki said.
Another party faithful, who pleaded anonymity, accused the Alimosho LGA chairman of stirring up the crowd.
“They think because they are in power, they can influence the party members’ choice of candidate, but we won’t let it.
“It is because of this intimidation, that there will be no election in this ward. As you can see, the people have already been dispersed,” he said.
In a related development, hawkers were seen making brisk sales at Ward A and B of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Consistency for the primary elections as at 2.15 p.m.
There was heavy presence of security men on ground and massive turnout of voters at the wards, waiting patiently for the voting process to start, while the hawkers were busy making sales.
Miss Olamide Seyinko, a spiced kpomo/fish seller, expressed happiness for finished selling a full bucket of her product.
Appreciating the buyers for the quick patronage, Seyinko said the sales were faster today compared to other days, where she would have finished sales at night or even carried it over to the next day in most cases.
“On a normal day, it takes me till night before I will finish selling a bucket of spiced kpomo like that.
“But, as a result of the election activities, my sales were made easier and faster than before.
“So, I am happy for the quick patronage and I thank everyone that bought from me,” she said.
Bimbo Kehinde, biscuits and soft drink seller, reiterated the massive sales she had recorded since morning at the venue, which would impact positively on her business.
Kehinde said that she had gone to reload her basin of soft drinks twice, of which on a normal day, she would have still been selling the first batch of drinks.
“I have actually made good sales, having finished selling two sets of soft drinks basins by now, and I am happy.
“I am also optimistic that I will make even greater sales before the end of the election activities today, since up till now, the election officials are yet to arrive,” she said.
Various kinds of goods, including moi-moi, small-chops, sachet alcohol, chin-chin, carrots and many more were sold at the voting venue.
A voter, Mrs Salome Adams, lamented that she left her house since morning to the venue and till now, the voting had not started.
Adams said that some voters were going back to their homes, and she would soon do same.
“I thought they said the election will not take time, and that is why I arrived here early hoping to cast my vote as fast as possible and go home.
“I will still wait a little more and if nothing happens, I will leave here,” she said.
Speaking, Mr Ademola Ismaila, the Supervisor for Environment, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, urged voters to exercise more patience, as the officials were on the way and would arrive the venue soon.
Ismaila said that voting had not started in any of the wards in the local government, hoping that the voting would start as soon as possible.
The two aspirants in the constituency are Mr Paul Kalejaiye and Mr Taiwo Kolawole, popularly known as H.K.T, both contesting for the House of Representatives.
