BREAKING: Ondo LG Chairman Beaten, Stripped by Suspected Thugs on First Day Back From Suspension

According to the Punch Newspaper on 20th April, 2026. The Chairman of Owo Local Government Area, Mr. Tope Omolayo, was assaulted and stripped by suspected political thugs on Monday as he attempted to resume duties at the council secretariat, months after councillors suspended him over alleged misconduct.

Omolayo, elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, returned to the Owo council headquarters on Monday morning following the expiration of a suspension handed down by the legislative arm of the council. His suspension, which lasted roughly six months, stemmed from unspecified allegations of gross misconduct and a prolonged rift with elected councillors.

Trouble began shortly after the chairman arrived at the secretariat to retake his seat. Eyewitnesses said a group of young men believed to be political thugs stormed the premises and blocked his entry, sparking a heated exchange that quickly degenerated into violence.

“They beat him mercilessly, tore his clothes and left him almost completely naked. It was an embarrassment,” an eyewitness who requested anonymity told Newshub. “The entire secretariat went into commotion. People ran for safety while the thugs fired shots into the air.”

Staff and visitors reportedly fled as the assailants overpowered the chairman, leaving him bruised and disrobed before dispersing. The attackers’ motive remains officially unconfirmed, though sources within the council point to the unresolved dispute between Omolayo and the councillors that triggered his suspension.

The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the incident and said it responded immediately to prevent further breakdown of law and order. Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said Commissioner of Police Adebowale Lawal ordered the rapid deployment of personnel and operational assets to the secretariat.

“The swift response has successfully restored calm and normalcy in the area,” Jimoh stated. “Investigations are ongoing to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident and to bring all involved to justice.”

The PPRO added that the Commissioner has urged residents to remain law-abiding and continue their daily activities without fear, assuring that the command will not tolerate acts of political violence.

As of Monday evening, efforts to reach Omolayo for comment were unsuccessful. Calls to his mobile line indicated the phone was switched off, and he had not issued a public statement through aides.

Omolayo’s suspension earlier in the year was sanctioned by the Owo Legislative Council, which accused him of actions deemed detrimental to the administration of the local government. Details of the allegations were never fully disclosed, but council sources described a “breakdown in working relationship” between the executive and legislative arms.

Monday’s attack raises fresh questions about political violence at the grassroots and the safety of elected officials caught in intra-party disputes. Owo LGA, a key political bloc in Ondo North, has witnessed recurring friction between executives and councillors over control of council resources and political loyalty ahead of the 2027 cycle.

Civil society groups in Ondo have condemned the assault, warning that mob action against public officials undermines democracy and due process. “If a chairman has a case to answer, the law provides channels. Beating and stripping him is criminality, not oversight,” said a representative of the Ondo Citizens’ Watch, who asked not to be named before the group’s official statement.

The APC state chapter has yet to comment on the incident. Meanwhile, councillors in Owo have denied sponsoring the attack but insist the chairman’s return must follow “proper reconciliation and accountability” for the issues that led to his suspension.

With investigations underway, attention now turns to whether police will identify and prosecute the attackers, and how the Ondo State Government and the Ministry of Local Government Affairs will intervene to stabilize Owo’s local administration.