No fewer than 15 persons were injured on Monday after violence broke out during the Alimosho APC West Senatorial District primaries in Lagos.
The incident was confirmed by CSP Aduroja Olurotimi, Officer in Charge of the Command Tactical Team, Egbeda, who spoke with journalists.
According to Olurotimi, the clash involved rival factions within the ruling All Progressives Congress and left several party members injured. He said victims were immediately taken to hospital for treatment.
He explained that police officers and other security agencies quickly intervened to restore calm at the venue, adding that no arrest had been made as of the time of filing this report.
According to reports, the violence erupted around 1:00 p.m. at the Alimosho Local Government Secretariat during the accreditation and voting process.
Eyewitnesses said trouble started when members of opposing factions engaged in a heated argument while delegates were being called to vote.
The disagreement soon turned violent, leading to the destruction of chairs, glass doors and windows at the venue.
The disruption caused panic among party members, forcing many to flee for safety as the situation degenerated into a fight and stampede.
Some members sustained serious injuries in the process and were rushed to nearby hospitals.
An APC member identified as Iya Ajoke condemned the violence, saying she would no longer participate in party primaries if adequate security could not be guaranteed.
“We will not come for elections if our leaders cannot guarantee our safety,” she said.
Another party member, Ojo Aina, described the incident as unfortunate, noting that the exercise had been peaceful before the sudden disruption.
“The whole process was going on smoothly before the rude disruption.
“Some women members had their faces injured by glass shards from the broken doors. It is really a bad sight,” Aina said.
Mistura Alao also expressed disappointment over the violence, saying she had lost confidence in the process and accusing security operatives of failing to control the situation effectively.
She added that the incident raised serious concerns ahead of future elections.
One of the injured members, Ajala Umar, who sustained minor injuries, also expressed worry over the development.
Although APC leaders later appealed to members to return and continue with the primaries after calm was restored, many reportedly refused to go back into the hall, while only a few returned to continue the process.
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