Gunshots on Monday disrupted the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary in parts of Ondo Central Senatorial District following the invasion of some venues by suspected political thugs.
The incident occurred at Ward 5, Okelisa, Amudipe Street, Akure, where supporters of the senator representing the district, Adeniyi Adegbomire, were attacked.
Adegbomire, who is seeking the APC ticket, reportedly escaped after his vehicle was shot at by the attackers.
Witnesses said the assailants fired sporadically into the air and attacked voters with machetes, forcing journalists, traders and pupils of Ebenezer Primary School to flee for safety.
The attack also disrupted the counting process at the ward.
Speaking with journalists, Adegbomire described the exercise as a “charade” and alleged that the process was deliberately sabotaged because he was leading in the voting.
Adegbomire said, “It’s a charade. It is a complete charade. I went to my ward, Okilisa Ward 5, Akure South Local Government today. Today is the Senate primaries for the APC.
“And whilst we were there, they told everybody to line up and they started counting. They counted my supporters who were voting for me. It was about 360.”
The senator alleged that the attackers invaded the venue when it became obvious he was leading.
“Then they started counting Taiwo Fasoranti’s own. When it was glaring to them that I think it got about a hundred and something, thugs came and invaded the place. Shot in the air, shot at my car. I can show you the bullet mark.
“They started trying to machete people. Beating people up. They disrupted the entire process,” he said.
Adegbomire further alleged that his supporters were prevented from participating in the primaries across the senatorial district.
“They are saying that if you are not going to vote for Fasoranti, go back to your house. They have hired thugs to intimidate people,” he alleged.