Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Suspected political thugs, on Monday night, stormed the venue of a meeting called by the committee in charge of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ogun State, and unleashed volley of gunshots to disrupt the meeting.
The meeting, slated for 10.p.m at the MITROS Residences and Gateway Annex, Ibara, Abeokuta, was attended by the six governorship aspirants of APC.
Members of the state executive committee of the party, led by the State chairman, Derin Adebiyi, were also in attendance.
Adebiyi, after welcoming the six-man election committee chaired by Ali Magashi for the conduct of the exercise, noted the party was ready for the exercise.
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In his remark, Magashi, explained that the committee was unable to conduct the primary election on Sunday, as directed by the party’s National Working Committee, due to logistic reasons.
He said, “I thought it is wise for us to hold this meeting. We are supposed to be here yesterday (Sunday), but could not do so due to logistics.
“You are all from Ogun State. We believe that somebody will emerge as the party’s governorship candidate and we believe other contenders will support whoever emerges.”
Shortly after his remarks, journalists present at the meeting were directed to leave to allow for a closed-door meeting with the aspirants.
However, there was pandemonium within the premises of the meeting, as supporters of two aspirants engaged themselves in a free-for-all.
Policemen were invited to restore order and one person was later arrested. But not too long, some suspected hoodlums shouting “Who is Dapo Abiodun? “Where is supposed Abiodun?” stormed the venue and fired sporadically.
Everyone outside the hall, including journalists scampered for safety and ran into the hall where the meeting was being held.
This development, however, forced the committee to call off the meeting as a result of security breach.
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Meanwhile, the state government has directed that both public primary and secondary schools should remain shut ahead of the conduct of the rescheduled APC governorship primary on Tuesday.
This directive was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Modupe Mujota. According to her, the school premises would be used as venues for the conduct of the direct primary exercise.