Thugs Wreak Havoc at Wike-Backed PDP Congresses in Oyo
Political tensions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated in Oyo State after suspected political thugs disrupted local government congresses held by a faction of the party believed to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The violent incident reportedly left several party members injured and properties destroyed across multiple locations.
The attacks took place on Saturday during local government congresses organized by the Wike-aligned faction of the party. The disruption highlighted the growing internal crisis within the PDP in Oyo State, where two rival factions have emerged. One faction is believed to support Wike, while the other is aligned with the state governor, Seyi Makinde.
Reports from party sources indicated that suspected political thugs stormed several congress venues, causing chaos among party members who had gathered to participate in the political exercise. Witnesses said the attackers targeted multiple locations and damaged vehicles belonging to party members, while several participants were physically assaulted during the violence.
The crisis also extended beyond the congress venues. Separate reports revealed that suspected thugs invaded the residence of former deputy governor Hazeem Gbolarumi in Ibadan, where they allegedly destroyed property within the compound. The incident further heightened tensions within the party as members accused rival factions of attempting to intimidate opponents through violence.
Sources within the party disclosed that about ten individuals were attacked during the incidents across the state. In addition to the injuries, several vehicles belonging to party members were vandalised in the process, raising concerns about security during internal political activities.
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The chairman of the Wike-aligned faction in the state, Professor Abdulrahman Akinoso, confirmed the attacks in a telephone interview on Saturday. According to him, the violence disrupted congresses in several local government areas, including Ibadan North, Ogbomoso South, Ibarapa Central, and Akinyele.
Akinoso explained that the attacks occurred simultaneously in multiple locations, making it difficult for organizers to continue with the congresses as planned. He stated that party members were assaulted and their properties destroyed during the disruption.
“Our local government congresses were attacked across Oyo State – Ibadan North, Ogbomoso South, Igboora in Ibarapa Central, and Akinyele,” Akinoso said.
He also revealed that three vehicles were vandalised during the incident in Ibadan North, specifically at Gbolarumi House located along Are Avenue in Bodija. According to him, the attacks left several party members injured and disrupted the party’s internal electoral activities.
The violence reflects the ongoing power struggle within the PDP in Oyo State. The rivalry between factions loyal to Wike and those aligned with Governor Makinde has intensified in recent months, creating deep divisions within the party’s structure in the state.
Political observers say internal conflicts like these often escalate during party congresses and primaries, where control of party structures and leadership positions becomes highly contested. Control of these structures is important because it influences candidate selection and party decisions ahead of future elections.
The latest violence has raised concerns about the increasing role of political thuggery in Nigeria’s party politics. Incidents involving suspected thugs have frequently been reported during political gatherings, particularly when factions compete for influence within a party.
Security experts and political analysts have repeatedly called for stronger measures to prevent violence during political activities. They warn that such incidents undermine democratic processes and discourage ordinary citizens from participating in political events.
As the PDP continues to grapple with internal divisions in Oyo State, party leaders are expected to address the crisis and find ways to restore unity among members. However, with political tensions already high and future elections on the horizon, observers fear that further confrontations between rival factions could occur if the underlying disputes remain unresolved.