by Akan Ido

The All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congresses in Ondo State was marred with violence leaving one person dead and as many as 15 others seriously injured.

Witnesses say sporadic gunshots were heard as different factions of the Party engaged in a battle for supremacy.

One member of the Party, Bosun Adegorola was reportedly shot dead at Ajipowo area ward in Akure, the Ondo State capital when a rival faction invaded the area to violently express their displeasure over the conduct of the primaries.

Three people have been arrested by the police in connection with the attack.

Read the Vanguard report below:

Police spokesman, Wole Ogodo, who confirmed the death of the deceased and the arrest of the party members, said the deceased was shot on the head during a scuffle at the ward congress in Akure.

This came as a faction of the party pulled out of congresses alleging marginalisation.

Yesterday congresses across the state were allegedly marred with irregularities as party members engaged themselves in free- for- all while in some areas the exercise failed to hold as at 5pm.

At Oshodi/Isolo ward 10 a member of the House representatives was accused of hijacking the party and forcefully installing one of his stooges as a member of the executive.

Sporadic gunshot rent the air at Owode/imuagun ward 11 aborting the election there.

The faction that pulled out include a member, Board of Trustees of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples’ Party, ANPP, Captain Demola Ariyo, and its state chairman, Yemisi Aladesaye, State Chairman of defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Olalekan Obolo and its governorship candidate Soji Ehinlanwo.

But reacting, interim State Secretary of the Party, Prince Olu Adegboro, described the faction as jokers, adding that no amount of sabotage from any quarters would halt the congresses in the wards from going on as scheduled.