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Gunshots disrupted the senatorial primaries of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo Central Senatorial District on Monday following the invasion of some voting centres by suspected political thugs.

The incident occurred in parts of Ondo State, particularly at Ward 5, Okelisa, Amudipe Street, Akure, where hoodlums reportedly attacked supporters of Senator Adeniyi Adegbomire.

Adegbomire, who is seeking the APC senatorial ticket, reportedly escaped unhurt after his vehicle came under gun attack during the chaos.

The suspected thugs were alleged to be loyal to one of the aspirants participating in the primary election.

Witnesses said the assailants fired several gunshots into the air and also shot at the senator’s vehicle before security operatives hurriedly evacuated him from the scene.

The development caused panic in the area as journalists covering the exercise, traders, and pupils of Ebenezer Primary School fled for safety.

The attackers were also said to have wielded machetes while assaulting voters and disrupting the counting process at the ward.

Speaking with journalists after the incident, Adegbomire alleged that the primary election was deliberately sabotaged.

The senator claimed the exercise appeared to be favouring him before the disruption occurred, alleging that thugs were deployed to prevent his supporters from participating in the process.

According to him, voting had commenced at his ward with supporters lining up behind their preferred aspirants before the violence erupted.

He explained that while the counting process was ongoing, the attackers stormed the venue, fired gunshots, attacked people with machetes, and disrupted the exercise.

Adegbomire further alleged that similar incidents were recorded in other parts of the senatorial district, claiming that some voters believed to be supporting him were prevented from accessing polling venues.

He also accused the perpetrators of using intimidation and violence to influence the outcome of the exercise.

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A popular former member of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Omorgie Ogbeide-Ihama has floored a serving Senator, Ned Imasuen and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in Edo South Senatorial District All Progressives Congress APC primaries.

Ogbeide-Ihama, an Engineer who vied into politics two decades ago has a reputation of beating his political rivals seamlessly since 2015.

This he has exhibited again in the Edo South Senatorial District primaries flooring two political heavyweights in one swipe.

He was a two-term member of the HoR 2015-2023

Local Government Areas results:

Oredo: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 3,950

Imasuen: 1,974

Ize-Iyamu: 986

Ohuonmde: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 2,626

Imasuen: 1,314

Ize-Iyamu: , 657

Ovia North East: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 3,514

Imasuen: 1,759

Ize-Iyamu: 878

Ovia South West: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 4,263

Imasuen: 2,759

Ize-Iyamu: 1,065

Ikpoba Okha: Ogbeide-Ihama 5,517

Imasuen: 2,759

Ize-Iyamu: 1,378

Orhionwon: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 3,058

Imasuen: 1,529

Ize-Iyamu: 765

Egor: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 4,226

Imasuen: 2,114

Ize-Iyamu: 1056

Oredo: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 3,950

Imasuen: 1,974

Ize-Iyamu: 986

Ohuonmde: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 2,626

Imasuen: 1,314

Ize-Iyamu: , 657

Ovia North East: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 3,514

Imasuen: 1,759

Ize-Iyamu: 878

Ovia South West: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 4,263

Imasuen: 2,759

Ize-Iyamu: 1,065

Ikpoba Okha: Ogbeide-Ihama 5,517

Imasuen: 2,759

Ize-Iyamu: 1,378

Orhionwon: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 3,058

Imasuen: 1,529

Ize-Iyamu: 765

Egor: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 4,226

Imasuen: 2,114

Ize-Iyamu: 1056
[5/18, 3:47 PM] Emman Ovuakporie: Grand total: Ogbeide-Ihama 27,154

Imasuen: 13,580

Ize-Iyamu: 6,785

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…Developer, engineer face arrest

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Monday ordered a full-scale investigation into the building collapse in Abuja that claimed four lives, directing that the premises be sealed off immediately.

Wike also disclosed that an engineer linked to the collapsed structure had been arrested, while the developer would equally face arrest and a panel set up to unravel the cause of the collapse.

The Minister, who visited the scene the collapsed building on Monday, described the incident as “very pathetic,” stressing that the government would not compromise on the safety of residents.

“From the report I got, we lost four people and some lives were saved. It’s very pathetic. Nobody is happy when you lose somebody,” Wike said.

“The Department of Development Control has sealed off the premises. We are going to set up a panel to really look at what happened. One of the engineers has been arrested already. From there, we’ll get to the developer, and the developer will also be arrested.”

He said the FCT Administration was taking over the matter, while the Department of Development Control would carry out preliminary investigations pending the outcome of the panel’s findings.

Wike warned developers against obstructing officials of the Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA) from carrying out routine supervision of construction projects.

According to him, some developers often resort to blackmail whenever government agencies attempt to enforce compliance with building regulations.

“Sometimes when we come to a site like this, the press has not been kind to us. Instead of finding out why government is taking that decision, some people will go to blackmail government officials,” he stated.

The minister stressed that strict compliance with building standards, including soil tests and the use of quality materials, remained critical to preventing future disasters.

“In construction of buildings, we must know the quality. What materials are they using? Are they doing the soil test? What is the result of the soil test? Can it allow for two floors or three floors? All these are very key,” he said.

He maintained that government’s primary responsibility was the protection of lives and property, lamenting that the lives lost in the collapse could never be replaced.

“How can you buy back these lives? They are gone. That is the responsibility of government: to protect life and property,” Wike added.