We narrowly escaped death during Ondo APC congress, says ex-commissioner
By Boye Oyeyemi –
A former commissioner in Ondo State, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, has alleged that he narrowly escaped death during violent clashes that disrupted the All Progressives Congress ward congress in Akure North Local Government Area on Wednesday.
Yusuf-Ogunleye, who also serves as director-general of the Grassroots Movement for Tinubu, disclosed that he and his supporters came under attack while attempting to participate in the exercise scheduled nationwide by the party’s national leadership.
Speaking with journalists in Oba-Ile, the former commissioner said tensions had already heightened following an earlier incident in which some party members were allegedly chased away from the party’s state secretariat.
He claimed that suspected attackers stormed the congress venue searching for him, alleging that threats were openly issued against his life during the chaos.
According to him, distress calls later poured in from supporters across several wards, reporting violence and disruption of the congress.
Yusuf-Ogunleye alleged that the chairman of Akure North Local Government, Johnson Ogunbolude, led individuals accompanied by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers to disrupt proceedings in different wards.
He further claimed that participants in Ward 1, Itaogbolu, and Ward 8 were harassed and dispersed, while some members were prevented from taking part in the congress.
The former commissioner added that fresh violence later erupted in Ward 3, leaving several party members injured. He noted that the victims were subsequently taken to hospitals for medical attention.
