Violence mars Delta APC leadership meeting, scores injured

Confrontation among the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta Central ended abruptly on Saturday at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State.

According to eyewitness accounts, the meeting descended into chaos as some attendees allegedly engaged in physical altercations, with chairs and other objects reportedly thrown during the incident.

Several people, especially party members, were said to have sustained injuries.

Among those reportedly affected was one of the Delta State Government’s Senior Special Assistants, who appeared in widely shared videos leaving the venue during the disturbance.

Sources familiar with the meeting claimed the confrontation may have been linked to disagreements among factions within the party.

Some accounts alleged that supporters associated with one of the Delta State commissioners, a founding member, and individuals linked to the governor’s Senior Special Assistant, who joined the party last year, were involved.

The founding members were said to have been schemed out of party benefits by the new members, leading to disagreements.

The leaders were said to have hurriedly abandoned the meeting with their security aides for safety, while goods were reportedly vandalised by those who started the disagreement.

The incident has generated public discussion about internal party cohesion and the conduct of political gatherings in the state.

Observers say peaceful dialogue and adherence to democratic principles are essential for maintaining public confidence in political institutions.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Delta State Government, the state chapter of the APC, nor the Nigeria Police Force had issued a detailed official account of the incident.

Stakeholders have called for a thorough investigation to establish the facts surrounding the disruption and ensure that anyone found responsible for any unlawful conduct is held accountable in accordance with the law.