APC Ondo central primaries violence erupts in Akure as gunmen disrupt voting, forcing candidates, journalists and voters to flee for safety

Gunshots and violent disruptions rocked parts of Ondo Central Senatorial District in Ondo State, Nigeria, on Monday, 18 May 2026, during the All Progressives Congress senatorial primaries, as suspected political thugs invaded polling venues and triggered widespread panic across Akure, the state capital.

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The violent incident, which has now become central to the APC Ondo Central Primaries Violence controversy, reportedly occurred at Ward 5, Okelisa, Amudipe Street, where armed men stormed the area and attacked supporters of Senator Adeniyi Adegbomire, one of the aspirants in the contest.

Senator Adeniyi Adegbomire, who is also seeking the party’s ticket, allegedly escaped from the scene after his vehicle was targeted and shot at during the chaos, as security personnel whisked him away from danger.

Eyewitness accounts indicated that the attackers fired sporadically into the air, wielded machetes and disrupted ongoing electoral processes, forcing voters, journalists and traders within the vicinity to flee for safety.

Pupils of Ebenezer Primary School and journalists covering the exercise were also reportedly caught in the panic, as gunshots echoed across the area and counting processes were abruptly halted.

The violent breakdown has intensified concerns surrounding the APC Ondo Central Primaries Violence, with allegations that the attackers were loyal to one of the aspirants and were deployed to disrupt voting activities in targeted wards.

Speaking after the incident, Senator Adeniyi Adegbomire described the exercise as deliberately sabotaged, alleging that the process was already leaning in his favour before it was violently interrupted.

He claimed that counting had begun peacefully in his ward before armed men invaded, shooting into the air, attacking individuals and damaging his vehicle.

“It’s a charade. It is a complete charade,” Adegbomire said, alleging that the disruption was politically motivated and extended across multiple locations in the senatorial district.

He further alleged that supporters of rival aspirants were being prevented from accessing voting areas, adding that reports of similar incidents were emerging from other parts of the district.

According to him, intimidation tactics were used to suppress participation, with claims that some voters were warned to support a particular candidate or return home.

The incident has added to growing tensions within the APC in Ondo State as the party conducts its internal primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections, raising fresh concerns about electoral violence and internal party stability.

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As investigations continue, stakeholders are calling for calm and a review of the electoral process in order to prevent further escalation of the APC Ondo Central Primaries Violence and restore confidence in the party’s internal democracy.