Tension has rocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State following allegations that a senior aide to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa violently assaulted a ward chairman during a dispute over the sharing of N1 million allegedly released for party structures.
The Forum of APC Ward Chairmen in Akure South on Sunday accused the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement (Central), Oluwafemi Fadairo, popularly known as Fada, of leading thugs to attack the Chairman of APC Ward 8, Oluwadare Olanrewaju, leaving him unconscious and hospitalised.
The forum claimed that the incident occurred after Governor Aiyedatiwa’s recent thank-you tour, during which N1 million was reportedly allocated to each ward in the local government.
According to a statement signed by members of the forum, the clash stemmed from disagreements over the distribution formula of the funds.
They alleged that Fadairo, who is said to be nursing an ambition to contest the Akure South/Akure North federal constituency seat, demanded that Olanrewaju include names of his loyalists on the beneficiaries’ list.
The ward chairman was said to have refused.
“When he declined to manipulate the list to favour certain individuals, the intimidation began,” the forum alleged.
The group claimed that Olanrewaju was repeatedly harassed and trailed before he was allegedly attacked by Fadairo and his associates, leaving him in a coma.
They described the incident as “barbaric, shameful and unacceptable,” especially given the alleged involvement of an official linked to the governor’s office.
“Leadership should protect party members, not endanger their lives. Anyone who promotes violence is unfit for public office,” the forum stated.
The ward chairmen further disclosed that petitions had been submitted to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 17, Akure, calling for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
However, Fadairo has categorically denied the allegations.
Speaking with PLATFORM TIMES, the governor’s aide dismissed the claims as “lies concocted to tarnish my image”, insisting that he neither assaulted nor threatened the ward chairman.
“There was no day I beat him or laid hands on him. These are false allegations sponsored by people who feel threatened by my popularity and political influence in the ward,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain official comments from the Ondo State Government and the state APC leadership were unsuccessful.
The incident has deepened internal tensions within the ruling party in the state, raising fresh concerns about violence, power struggles, and internal democracy as political activities ahead of future elections gather momentum.
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