Aiyedatiwa holds parallel stakeholders’ meeting, blames ‘vested interests’ over crisis
Governor Denies Involvement in APC Meeting Violence
Akure, Ondo State—Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has refuted allegations linking him to violence that erupted during a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday.
Aiyedatiwa stated that individuals not affiliated with the party were responsible for the disruption at the party’s state secretariat. The chaos left several party officials, including state APC Chairman Ade Adetimehin, injured after a group allegedly associated with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) stormed the meeting venue.
The injured officials, who have since been hospitalized, accused the governor of orchestrating the violence to undermine the meeting. However, Aiyedatiwa led a parallel stakeholders’ gathering, alongside representatives from the national congress committees, emphasizing that a formal agenda for the planned 10 a.m. meeting was never established; he had requested a postponement to 2 p.m. to facilitate attendance by key officials, including the Speaker of the House and the Deputy Governor.
In his remarks, Aiyedatiwa stressed his commitment to due process and dismissed claims of rivalry related to the party congresses. He characterized the morning’s event as a factional gathering rather than an official party meeting.
“This was an impromptu stakeholders’ meeting due to ongoing congresses at the ward and local government levels,” Aiyedatiwa explained. He noted that he took immediate action upon hearing about the disturbances, contacting the police commissioner to ensure security measures were in place ahead of his attendance.
The situation underscores ongoing tensions within the party as it prepares for upcoming elections.
