Lagos APC primary turns deadly as supporter shot dead in Ikotun
By: Abudu Olalekan
A man lost his life when gunfire erupted at an APC primary vote in Ikotun. Things turned violent quickly, yes. At a school in Ile-Iwe, Egbe – where ballots were being cast – more than a few ended up hurt amid the disorder. The scene spiraled beyond control before anyone could react.
Out of nowhere last Sunday, whispers began spreading through the crowd. People showed up like any other day – voting, chatting, moving papers around. A shout broke the calm, then another, pulling faces tight with surprise. One side blamed a shove, another pointed at words spoken too loud. Heat built fast when voices climbed over each other. Chaos rolled in before anyone could slow it down.
One resident, who didn’t want his name mentioned (understandably, with security being what it is), told us gunshots rang out while people were scattering. “The primary was going on in the school when some supporters started arguing,” he said. “Before you knew it, people were running for safety. Then we heard gunshots. One person was hit. Others got injured in the rush too.”
Taofeek saw it happen, felt the panic ripple through the streets. Shouts burst out of nowhere, then people sprinting every which way. Confusion took hold fast – no one grasping what unfolded. Some scrambled over fences, desperate. Others ducked into homes close by. News crept in slow: someone didn’t make it. The wounded man left quickly, breathing gone before reaching care.
Heavy silence fell right then. Not a sound, just pressure building up around everyone.
A call came through to officers nearby when the situation got out of hand. Right after, extra units arrived on scene without delay. Officers already there radioed for more help just moments into the chaos. The local boss and district head showed up personally to take control. Peace slowly returned under their presence. Nobody confirmed whether arrests took place during the response.
Failing to reach the Lagos Police spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, became clear after several attempts – no replies came by phone or text.
Still nothing from APC leaders by deadline. Not a single comment made public so far. Their silence stayed intact when reports closed. Zero confirmation shared up to that point. Quiet on their end right until the news ran.
Truth be told, Nigeria has lived through scenes like this far more than once. Election after election – primaries, voting, do-overs – they blur into a repeating pattern. On opposing sides, backers square off; gunfire breaks out; those caught in between suffer most. Lives lost, peace shattered – that’s what regular folks walk away with.
