By Ayo Bamidele
The All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congress in Idanre, Ondo State, descended into a theatre of war on Wednesday, leaving two people dead and several others fighting for their lives. The violent clash has sent shockwaves through the state, deepening the already fractured internal party tensions.
The Ondo State Police Command has officially confirmed the fatalities. According to security reports, five persons were brutally attacked during the unrest, while a vehicle was reduced to ashes by the mob. Three victims who survived the onslaught are currently receiving emergency medical treatment for varying degrees of injuries.
In a heartbreaking twist, one of the deceased has been identified as the younger brother of the State APC Chairman, Ade Adetimehin. This tragedy follows a pattern of escalating violence, as Chairman Adetimehin himself was reportedly attacked just 24 hours earlier during a stakeholders’ meeting at the party’s secretariat.
Police Move to Restore Order
In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, the Command revealed that a distress call was received from the Divisional Police Officer in Idanre at approximately 11:05 a.m. on February 18, 2026. The report detailed a breakdown of law and order orchestrated by a violent group.
Responding to the crisis, Commissioner of Police Adebowale Lawal immediately deployed tactical teams to reinforce the area. Lawal later led a high-powered joint security operation, alongside the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Oluyemi Ibiloye, to quell the flames of violence and restore a fragile peace to the community.
“During the incident, five persons yet to be identified were reportedly attacked, and a vehicle was set ablaze. Three victims sustained varying degrees of injury and are currently receiving medical attention, while two others were confirmed dead at the hospital,” the police statement read.
A Battle for Grassroots Control
The carnage reportedly erupted when supporters of two rival political heavyweights in Idanre clashed over the installation of loyalists as ward executives. Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene where weapons were used freely, resulting in life-threatening injuries and widespread panic.
This explosion of violence comes on the heels of the attack on Ade Adetimehin and other party elders at the APC secretariat. While Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has distanced himself from the secretariat skirmish, he notably declared that the meeting in question was “illegal,” adding another layer of political intrigue to the crisis.
Across several wards in Idanre Local Government Area, the democratic exercise was completely overshadowed by the sound of gunfire and disruptions led by suspected political thugs determined to hijack grassroots structures.
Protests Hit Akure South
The tension wasn’t confined to Idanre. In Akure South LGA, aggrieved party members took to the streets to protest the alleged imposition of Femi Fadairo as the Returning Officer. Protesters claimed that Fadairo, a House of Representatives aspirant, had a history of suspension over misconduct, making his role in the congress unacceptable to the rank and file.
Sources also alleged that the original list of delegates submitted by local leaders was surreptitiously replaced, leading to accusations of manipulation and further fueling the flames of protest.
While the ward congress was slated for all 203 wards in Ondo State, the exercise remains on hold in neighboring Ekiti State due to unresolved disputes stemming from last year’s governorship primary. As security agencies maintain a heavy presence in the troubled zones, this bloody congress has cast a dark, uncertain shadow over the APC’s unity in the Sunshine State.
