Thugs disrupted Abeokuta North legislative house inauguration over leadership tussle, halting proceedings and sparking political controversy

[dropcap]G[/dropcap]rassroots democracy faced a significant blow on Thursday as suspected political thugs disrupted the inauguration of the legislative arm of Abeokuta North Local Government.

The disruption arose from a leadership tussle among councillors and party stakeholders over principal officer positions.

Tensions flared among All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders within the local government as rival factions vied for control of the legislative arm.

Sources revealed that some councillors were backed by certain party leaders to secure the four principal leadership positions. When their plans failed, chaos erupted, halting legislative activities.

Eyewitnesses reported that the legislative maze, the symbol of the house’s authority, was taken by unidentified individuals amidst the uproar.

A councillor who spoke anonymously expressed regret over the incident, stating that prior agreements had been reached to resolve conflicts before the house’s inauguration.

“It is quite unfortunate that despite prior agreements, political actors decided to act differently,” the councillor lamented.

Another councillor criticised the actions as a disregard for party unity.

“The incident happened because appeals from local party leaders, including Engr. Seni Ayorinde, Alhaja Faida Sarumi-Akintunde, Princess Ronke Ogunremi, and others, were ignored. The focus on the 2027 election agenda is premature,” the councillor added.

A party leader who witnessed the drama accused certain leaders of orchestrating the disruption.

“We had credible information that some party leaders came to ensure their loyalists occupied the principal offices. When their plans failed, they resorted to hiring thugs to unleash mayhem on staff and party faithful,” the source alleged.

Staff and witnesses at the secretariat were reportedly targeted during the unrest.

Multiple sources confirmed that councillors involved in the crisis had been identified and APC leadership in the area is expected to take appropriate disciplinary measures to address the incident and restore order.