BY KOLADE LAREWAJU/GBENGA AKINWUMI
THE House of Representative and House of Assembly primaries of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Ogun State, was yesterday marred by violence as some party supporters whose candidate lost out in the consensus arrangement vandalized the party secretariat and held leaders of the party hostage for several hours.

This came just as three members of the Group of 15 legislators in Ogun currently at loggerheads with Governor Olugbenga Daniel picked the tickets of the ACN to contest the forthcoming polls.

The primaries which began at early yesterday morning went sour at about 2pm when the names of the successful candidates were been announced by the party leaders. No sooner had the name of Mr. Segun Williams, was announced  as candidate for the Abeokuta South Federal Constituency that trouble started with protest erupting.

The protesters who are supporters of Mr. Lanre Edun, said to be a close associate of a gubernatorial aspirant; Senator Ibikunle Amosun, chanted abusive songs, threw stones and broke all the louver in the secretariat.

For several hours, leaders of the party including the Chairman; Alhaji Tajudeen Bello, Secretary; Alhaji Abimbola Awofeso and National Youth Leader; Prince Segun Adesegun, were held hostage within the secretariat while policemen were quickly brought in to prevent the burning of the secretariat.

The Organising Secretary, Chief Wole Adeniji had his clothes torn and the police insisted on arresting the woman said to have been the one who tore the clothes, but the protesters insisted that she had done nothing wrong.

As at the time of report, policemen were still guarding the venue of the exercise. Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Remmy Hazzan got the ticket for Odogbolu, Mr. Olusola Pelumi got the ticket for Remo North State Constituency while Mrs. Adijat Oladapo Adeleye got the ticket for Ifo 11 State Constituency of the party.