The Ondo APC chaos

THE violence that occurred recently at the secretariat of the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC), during which thugs loyal to certain party chiefs allegedly descended on the party leadership, is inimical to the growth of democracy in Nigeria. We see the violence as a monumental embarrassment and a troubling metaphor for party politics in Nigeria. When a ruling party cannot manage disagreement without thuggery, it raises an unavoidable question: How can it credibly manage the far more complex tensions of governance?

We denounce this violence. It is against normal civil principles. Any dimension of power which utilises or tolerates violence gets harmed by its toxin. Violence is not a political strategy; it is an admission of communication failure. Political parties are meant to be arenas of strategic negotiation, persuasion and compromise. Once intimidation replaces dialogue, leadership gives way to recklessness and legitimacy begins to erode. The damage is never confined to party walls: it erodes public confidence, weakening citizens’ trust in democratic processes. This point on the toxicity of violence, especially in the political context, was made by the American Historian and Philosopher, Hannah Arendt, who observed that: “Violence can destroy power; it is utterly incapable of creating it.” Put very succinctly, violence does not breed anything good. It is on this premise that we decry the violence in the Nigerian polity, irrespective of its source, its sponsor, or its beneficiaries.

We sympathise with the victims of the said violence whose perpetrators were allegedly linked to the Establishment. Although the state governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has denied any involvement in the chaos, the impacts of the imbroglio are undeniable. The mutual recriminations and refutals surrounding the incident are predictable, but they do little to address the malaise. There is no smoke without fire: the persistent factional rumblings within the Ondo State chapter of the APC suggest structural tensions that cannot be wished away. Political overcrowding, unmanaged alliances and unresolved ambitions have historically destabilised parties. The APC would be naïve to assume immunity from centrifugal forces.

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Particularly worrisome is the growing pattern of intra-party rivalry framed around access to positions and political power in Nigeria. When political contests become existential struggles rather than procedural competitions, violence becomes an ever-present temptation. The law is clear about governors’ constitutional limits and political transition; this should not become a rhetorical weapon in factional battles. Legal questions belong in courts, not in street confrontation.

We state unreservedly that the Ondo APC and the political class in general must henceforth be extremely careful in their activities. They must manage internal wrangling. If a political party cannot manage its internal affairs peacefully, it is not a fallacy to aver that such a party cannot govern the people in peace.  The violence witnessed in Ondo APC is a surface result of the deep-rooted row within the state party structure. It is evident that there is division, acrimony and lack of order within the APC in Ondo State. Political parties must be equipped with machinery to curb extreme interests, curtail the perceived excesses of their members, and uphold general democratic principles. Some people have suffered from the lawlessness of certain political leaders in Ondo. We, therefore, call on the security agencies to investigate this incident and bring its actors to book. For the sake of democracy and the rule of law, anyone found wanting, no matter how highly placed, should be made to face the wrath of the law.

In situations like this, party stalwarts and faithful should be unbiased, and should uphold the internal mechanisms meant to foster peace and order. Party leaders should breathe light and love to the paths of the party. After all, as Martin Luther King Jr. once described such a situation, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Party elders should address violence and other negative traits within the fold. Party members should purge themselves of deep-seated rivalry, hate and unruly tendencies.

This incident carries national implications. As defections continue to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape, unresolved internal disputes risk metastasising across states. The arithmetic of “who gets what” cannot become a trigger for instability. Political expansion without conflict management mechanisms is a recipe for recurring crisis. Ultimately, responsibility rests with the leadership. The national hierarchy of the APC, and indeed President Bola Tinubu as the party’s foremost figure, must recognise that internal disorder undermines external authority. Discipline, fairness, and transparent conflict resolution are not luxuries; they are the minimum conditions for political coherence. We call on the President to intervene in the matter and demonstrate his commitment to transparency, democratic principles, and institutional order within the Ondo APC. A situation where political leaders are beaten, party elders are disgraced, and many others are injured by ‘unknown’ thugs at the party’s secretariat calls for urgent and drastic measures. Such a stance will prevent a scenario in which hoodlums in the larger society take advantage of the already bad situation and foment more trouble. Prompt actions against this violence will also discourage other states which may have unresolved issues from erupting into violence, particularly those states where governors defected to the ruling party.

Other parties, too, would do well to take heed. Today’s spectacle in Ondo is not a partisan anomaly but a systemic warning. Nigeria’s democracy cannot afford a political culture where disagreement routinely degenerates into violence. Civility is not weakness; it is the infrastructure upon which sustainable politics is built. The APC leadership should attend to its internal matters, and remember that violence is criminal. As Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill once said: “Politics without principle is politics without conscience.” We concur.

Security agencies must treat the Ondo APC episode with all seriousness and neutrality. Political violence thrives where impunity is tolerated. A credible investigation is essential not only for accountability but also for deterrence. Hoodlums flourish in climates where political actors signal that their actions attract no consequences. All politicians and aspiring leaders should act in accordance with the right democratic principles. They should be of good conscience and avoid the dangers of unchecked ambition and division. The entire Nigerian polity will be the better for it.