Violence disrupted an All Progressives Congress stakeholders’ meeting in Delta State on Sunday after the Senior Special Assistant on Protocol to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Simon Mudi, popularly known as Temple, was allegedly stabbed during a clash at the Petroleum Training Institute Conference Centre in Uvwie Local Government Area.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that several persons sustained injuries in the fracas, which occurred during the meeting attended by top APC leaders, including the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo; Senator Ede Dafinone; Executive Director of Business Development at NEXIM Bank, Stella Okotete; Governor Oborevwori’s Senior Political Adviser, Emmanuel Aguariavwodo; Delta ALGON Chairman, Isaiah Esiovwa; and the state Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Reuben Izeze.
Some sources alleged that the incident began after Temple confronted and attacked a young man over an earlier disagreement, triggering a confrontation that later escalated into a free-for-all.
The sources further claimed that the clash involved suspected rival cult groups, alleging that Temple belonged to the Buccaneer confraternity while the other individual was linked to the Axe confraternity. The claims could not be independently verified.
Eyewitnesses said Temple was chased with plastic chairs and bottles before he was allegedly stabbed multiple times in the head, neck and back. He was later rescued and rushed to a hospital for treatment.
Another witness, however, attributed the violence to lingering political disagreements between supporters of Temple and Commissioner Izeze.
According to the witness, the meeting became a battleground as supporters of both camps clashed, with plastic chairs and bottles freely used during the fight.
“What actually happened was that there had been growing political disagreements and unresolved issues between Izeze and Temple. Both camps used the meeting to test their strength before it degenerated into violence,” the eyewitness said.
Reacting to the allegations, Izeze denied any involvement in the incident.
“The fight has nothing to do with me. Temple actually started the fight by attacking a young man with a chair over a previous disagreement,” the commissioner said.
He maintained that he was seated inside the conference hall, about 300 metres from where the violence occurred, adding that videos circulating online supported his claim.
Izeze also alleged that he was attacked during the incident and accused the Chairman of Uvwie Local Government Area, Tony Ofoni, of assaulting him and making away with his blue-strapped Guess wristwatch, ₦400,000 cash and prescription glasses.
He further alleged that the council chairman incited supporters against him during the meeting, an allegation that had yet to receive a response from Ofoni as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the Guild of Online Media Editors and Publishers of Nigeria condemned the violence and called for a thorough investigation.
In a statement signed by its National President, Akpovoke Otiti, the organisation urged the Delta State Government and security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible.
The guild warned that violence involving political appointees at a party meeting could erode public confidence in governance and undermine democratic institutions.
It also urged political leaders and their supporters to embrace dialogue and lawful means of resolving disputes rather than violence.
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