The town hall meeting of the All Progressives Congress in Iju town, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State was disrupted by some youths who were suspected to be members of the party.

The state Commissioner for Works, Mr Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye who was one of the chieftains of the party in the local government was reportedly beaten severely by the youths at the meeting.

It was gathered that the Commissioner was in the community to attend the meeting called for the purpose of membership registration and validation of the party.

According to a source, some minutes after the arrival of Yusuf-Ogunleye, the youths besieged Iju town hall venue of the meeting, with dangerous objects and attacked the Commissioner. Many other members of the party at the venue were reportedly injured.

The source said, “As you know, we are starting the registration of our members in a few days time. So, the APC chairman in Akure North called a meeting and invited other leaders of the party to discuss the issue.

“The meeting had not even started when some thugs invaded the venue. They started raining abuses and curses on the Commissioner. They beat him and nearly killed him.

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“This is a sad development. We don’t know what could have caused it. What is the big deal in membership registration? I am sorry for this party.”

Some members of the party accused the Minister of State for Niger-Delta Affairs, Senator Tayo Alasoadura, of masterminding the attack, following a disagreement between him and Yusuf- Ogunleye.

The source said, “Those who attacked the Commissioner are known boys of Chief Alasoadura. We thought Alasoadura has grown beyond that, considering his age and where God has put him.

The media aide to Alasoadura, Mr Dayo Joe, said the Minister did not sponsor any attack against the Commissioner. He, however, described the meeting as factional, saying it was not an APC meeting.

He said, “I just believe those who did it (attack) saw it as a factional meeting. It was not an APC meeting. They only camouflaged under the umbrella of APC. This is because some other leaders whom they believe are not loyal to them were not invited to that meeting.

“So, it was a factional meeting and, as a result, some people were not happy. That was what happened. Alasoadura was not even aware. He was not even around. So, he wouldn’t have been the mastermind of the attack.