Several people were injured during the incident, which caused panic among party members and forced organisers to relocate the primary to the Isoko North council secretariat in Ozoro.
Among those caught in the chaos was Ovie Umuakpo, Executive Assistant to Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who was reported to have narrowly escaped harm as gunfire broke out at the venue.
Witnesses alleged that the attackers were loyal to Umuakpo and had targeted Delta State Commissioner for Health, Joseph Onojaeme, over disagreements linked to the conduct of the primary election. According to party members present at the venue, the armed group arrived during preparations for voting and opened fire, triggering a stampede.
An APC member who witnessed the incident said some local youths resisted the attackers, leading to clashes that left several people injured.
“The shooting caused confusion, and everyone began running for safety,” the source said, adding that both members of the armed group and community youths sustained injuries.
The source also alleged that tensions between Umuakpo and the health commissioner had existed for months over political control within the district.
Following the disruption, security operatives and local authorities restored calm to the area. Some injured persons were reportedly taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Umuakpo denied allegations that he led an armed invasion of the venue. He said he had gone to Ovrode to question the relocation of the primary venue from Ellu, which he claimed was the approved location for the exercise.
“I did not invade Ovrode,” he said. “When we arrived, boys at the venue attacked us and several people were injured on both sides. There was nothing like I escaped death.”
Efforts to reach Commissioner Onojaeme for comment were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
Despite the disruption, voting reportedly continued in parts of the senatorial district, with results being collated in Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area.
