Violence broke out during a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on Monday, leaving the state Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe, seriously injured.
Ajigbotafe, popularly known as “AB Ajigbotafe,” was allegedly attacked by suspected political thugs during a reconciliation meeting organised to address disputes arising from the party’s House of Representatives primary election in Lagos West.
Sources within the party disclosed that tensions had been building since Saturday’s primaries, which reportedly sparked rivalry between supporters of former Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area Chairman, Olabisi Adebajo, also known as ABISCO, and incumbent lawmaker, Ganiyu Ayuba.
The primary election was said to have descended into chaos after armed thugs allegedly stormed the venue wielding dangerous weapons and causing panic among party members. Witnesses also reported sporadic gunfire during the disturbance.
Party insiders alleged that Ajigbotafe was identified with one of the rival factions, a development believed to have heightened tensions ahead of Monday’s peace meeting.
However, the reconciliation meeting reportedly turned violent after suspected loyalists of influential political figures allegedly attacked the commissioner with machetes in what witnesses described as an attempted assassination.
A party member, in a message circulated among APC stakeholders, said the commissioner survived the attack but sustained severe injuries.
“The assassination attempt on the Honourable Commissioner was unsuccessful; however, he sustained serious injuries, his vehicle was damaged, and security personnel were severely wounded,” the source stated.
Sources further revealed that Ajigbotafe suffered heavy blood loss and underwent multiple blood transfusions as doctors battled to stabilise his condition.
The incident has reportedly generated tension within the Lagos APC, particularly in Alimosho, regarded as one of the ruling party’s major political strongholds in the state.
The attack has also sparked outrage among party members and stakeholders, many of whom condemned the rising level of violence, intimidation, and political hooliganism within the party.
Reacting to the development, a concerned APC member and Certified Protection Officer, Debo Awosheye, described the incident as disturbing and harmful to the image of the party.
“These incidents are unacceptable and capable of damaging the unity, reputation, and democratic values of our party,” Awosheye said in a statement addressed to APC leaders in Alimosho.
“No political ambition or disagreement should ever justify violence, intimidation, harassment, or threats against party members,” he added.
Awosheye warned that failure to urgently address the crisis could deepen internal divisions and damage the party’s reputation ahead of future elections.
Another APC member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the attack as barbaric and called on party leaders to take immediate action.
“How can you fight a sitting commissioner publicly and injure him to the point of blood flow? This is not acceptable,” the member said.
As of the time of filing this report, the Lagos State Police Command and APC leadership had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
