Tension escalated at the Kwara State secretariat of the All Progressives Congress in Ilorin on Thursday after suspected political thugs and cultists allegedly loyal to a governorship aspirant surrounded the premises during the partyās governorship primary election.
The hoodlums reportedly stormed the secretariat in large numbers, chanting war songs and threatening violence unless their preferred aspirant, Yahaya Seriki-Gambari, emerged victorious in the exercise.
According to eyewitnesses, the atmosphere around the secretariat became increasingly tense as the group blocked movements in and out of the venue, creating panic among delegates, party officials and observers participating in the primary process.
A video obtained by SaharaReporters showed some of the suspected thugs chanting in Yoruba: āNo Yahaya Seriki-Gambari, no vote,ā in what appeared to be a direct show of support for the aspirant.
Former Minister and Senator, Musiliu Obanikoro, who was reportedly appointed by the APC leadership to supervise the Kwara governorship primary, was said to have been trapped inside the secretariat as tensions escalated.
āObanikoro is in Kwara to supervise the primary election but he was waylaid by thugs chanting āno Seriki-Gambari, no vote,āā an eyewitness told SaharaReporters.
Security operatives, including officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, were reportedly deployed to the area in an attempt to restore calm and disperse the crowd.
However, witnesses claimed the security personnel initially struggled to contain the situation as the suspected thugs continued chanting and issuing threats around the party secretariat.
The APC governorship primary is one of several ongoing primary elections being conducted across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections, following earlier contests for State Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate tickets.