By: Manoah Kikekon
LAGOS, NIGERIA — What began as a peaceful demonstration by members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ojo turned into a bloody confrontation on Thursday. Protesters, who had gathered to voice their opposition to the alleged imposition of Seyi Sowunmi as the party’s 2027 House of Representatives candidate, were violently ambushed by armed hoodlums, leaving several participants severely injured.
The demonstration started early Thursday morning, with party members carrying placards and chanting slogans demanding a transparent primary process for the Ojo Federal Constituency.
However, the atmosphere shifted as the group began their procession toward the party’s Secretariat. Witnesses reported seeing a group of men, identified by locals as loyalists to the embattled candidate, hovering near the fringes of the crowd before launching a coordinated assault.
Speaking on the traumatic turn of events, a prominent party stakeholder, Comrade Nosiru Alanis, detailed how the peace was shattered.
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“When the protest started, we saw some guys coming around who were identified as Seyi’s boys, but they couldn't come to where we were initially. Then we decided to move to the party Secretariat. As we were moving, the guys attacked, injured three of us, and stole our valuable items, including phones and money.”
The attackers reportedly used various weapons to disperse the crowd, causing a stampede that sent residents and shop owners in the Ojo area scurrying for safety.
The brutality of the attack left three members with significant injuries. The victims have been identified as Pastor Yemi Ayeni, Emmanuel, and Femi. They were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment for wounds sustained during the melee. Beyond the physical injuries, protesters lamented the loss of personal property, alleging that the thugs systematically robbed them during the confusion.
The incident has been officially reported to the Nigeria Police Force in Ojo. Law enforcement officers have reportedly visited the scene to gather evidence and are expected to invite individuals mentioned in the petition for questioning. The ADC leadership in the local government has vowed to pursue the matter legally, insisting that internal party grievances should never result in bloodshed or the use of non-state actors to silence dissent.
As of the time of this report, the allegations against Seyi Sowunmi remain unaddressed by his camp. Multiple attempts were made to reach out to him for his response to the claims that his "boys" orchestrated the attack, but all calls and messages remained unanswered.