APC Lawmaker Smashes Mace on Colleague’s Head, Legislator Hospitalised
- A leadership tussle in the Ifelodun Local Government APC legislative council escalated into violence
- A lawmaker was struck on the head with the mace, the chamber’s symbol of authority
- Police arrested the Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader, and a councillor, while the injured member was hospitalized
The ongoing internal crisis in the ruling All Progressive Congress took a different turn on Thursday when members of the Ifelodun Local Government Legislative Council in Kwara state clashed over leadership tussles.
The plenary session, which was scheduled for deliberations of important matters pressing the council, shockingly turned violent, leaving members injured and the arrest of some members by the Nigerian Police Force.
Source: Original
Plot to remove lawmaker sparked chaos
Legit.ng learned that the chaos erupted during a heated move to remove the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ismail Abdulkadir, and the Majority Leader, Hon. Ibrahim Akeem, over allegations of anti-party activities.
What began as a political disagreement quickly degenerated into physical violence when the mace, the official symbol of authority in the chamber, was smashed on the head of a lawmaker.
According to eyewitnesses, the session turned rowdy after Speaker Jimoh Garba announced the removal of the affected leaders.
The announcement triggered a free-for-all fight between two factions of lawmakers, deepening the cracks within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the local government.
Source: Twitter
Security operatives were immediately called in to calm the situation and prevent further bloodshed.
The injured lawmaker was rushed to a hospital, while the Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader, and another councillor representing Idofian Ward 2 were taken into police custody.
Lawmaker detailed cause of rift
A member of the council’s executive arm, who spoke exclusively to Legit.ng on condition of anonymity, said the crisis was a product of a festering leadership tussle.
“It was a power tussle that led to all the drama you saw. The Speaker and the Deputy are not on good terms. This was why they wanted to remove the Deputy Speaker and the House Majority Leader for alleged anti-party activities. As I speak, we have two factions of APC in Ifelodun and if that does not resolve, it may cost the party during the 2027 general elections,” he explained.
He further lamented that while lawmakers were busy fighting for positions, insecurity and other pressing issues in the council area remained unattended.
“It’s so sad that the lawmakers are not united this time to collectively solve the pressing needs of their constituents which is insecurity,” he added.
The Executive Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government, Hon. Abdulrasheed Femi Yusuf, has however distanced himself from the development, denying claims that he orchestrated the removal of the leaders.
In a statement, he pledged to work with stakeholders to restore peace.
Meanwhile, APC chieftains in the state have condemned the violent turn of events. AbdulRauf Abdullahi, an aide to the Aide-De-Camp (ADC) of President Bola Tinubu, described the incident as shameful.
“This is so saddening. Legislative chambers are meant to be places of dialogue, lawmaking, and representation of the people, not a place of violence. The mace which serves as a symbol of authority must never be desecrated or weaponized,” Abdullahi said.
Suspected terrorists target politicians
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that fear had gripped several communities in Kwara state following fresh attacks by suspected terrorists, popularly known as bandits, who are now targeting politicians and electoral officials.
Legit.ng gathered that on Sunday night, gunmen stormed Sakpefu community in the Lade district of Patigi Local Government Area and abducted the wife and daughter of the local chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Mohammed Swasun.
Source: Legit.ng
Ibrahim Sofiyullaha (Editorial Assistant) Ibrahim Sofiyullaha is a graduate of First Technical University, Ibadan. He was the founder and pioneer Editor-in-Chief of a fast-rising campus journalism outfit at his university. Ibrahim is a coauthor of the book Julie, or Sylvia, written in collaboration with two prominent Western authors. He was ranked as the 9th best young writer in Africa by the International Sports Press Association. Ibrahim has contributed insightful articles for major platforms, including Sportskeeda in the UK and Motherly in the United States. Email: ibrahim.sofiyullaha@corp.legit.ng
Atanda Omobolaji (Kwara State Correspondent)
