Get Guardian on Google• Police arrest suspect as NDC demands probe, prosecution of perpetrators
• Lagos APC denies sponsorship, challenges opposition to provide evidence
• Reps set up committee to investigate rising violence nationwide
• Obi condemns attack, says Tinubu tired, should go home
• PANDEF, CDD warn of growing threats to opposition activities
• EU backs 5,500 election observers, rejects calls for sanctions
The attack on supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) during a town hall meeting organised for its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Lagos yesterday has triggered fresh political exchanges and heightened concerns over the safety of opposition activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While the police have arrested a suspected attacker, the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied sponsoring the incident, as the House of Representatives moves to investigate rising political violence across the country.
Suspected political thugs, armed with cutlasses, cudgels and stones, invaded Classic Event Place, Oregun, Ikeja, where NDC supporters had gathered for the town hall meeting ahead of Obi’s expected appearance.
The attackers reportedly approached the venue from Kudirat Abiola Way at about 11:00 a.m., attempting to gain access to the hall. Their arrival triggered panic, forcing participants to flee as the confrontation disrupted proceedings and left chairs and other materials scattered.
Some supporters, however, resisted the attackers and prevented them from taking over the venue. One of the suspected assailants was apprehended by the crowd, while others reportedly fled.
The confrontation spilled onto Kudirat Abiola Way, disrupting traffic as motorists made U-turns and pedestrians hurried away from the scene. Police officers reportedly fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd.
Some participants sustained injuries, although the number of victims and the severity of their conditions had yet to be established.
The Lagos State Police Command subsequently arrested a suspected attacker identified only as Ibrahim. A viral video showed the suspect with his hands and legs tied inside a police patrol vehicle.
The suspect denied being recruited to attack the gathering, claiming that he had visited the venue to beg for money.
“I came to beg for money,” he said, also denying that he had carried cutlasses.
NDC supporters, however, alleged that the suspect and others had arrived with weapons, including cutlasses, stones, bottles and sticks, damaged vehicles and fired gunshots to scare participants before they resisted the attackers.
The National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, Osa Director, also questioned the motive behind the incident, asking in a post on X: “Why is APC afraid of Peter Obi?”
There was, however, no independently established evidence linking the attackers to any political party.
A police source said the NDC had failed to submit a notification letter for the meeting, comparing the situation with the visit of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, whose team reportedly submitted one before his recent engagement in Lagos.
The police spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, said officers were still at the scene and had yet to submit a report on the incident.
“Our officers that will give us information about the incident are still on the field, trying to calm everything down over there. When they arrive and give us the information, we will update the media,” she said.
APC rejects allegation of sponsorship
REACTING to allegations linking the ruling party to the attack, the Lagos APC spokesman, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, described them as reckless, baseless and irresponsible.
In a statement, he said the party had neither sponsored, encouraged, nor participated in any action capable of undermining the constitutional rights of political parties to assemble and canvass support.
Oladejo said it was curious that the attack occurred on the same day the APC flagged off its campaign for the 2027 general elections in Epe, several kilometres from Ikeja.
He maintained that the party’s political leaders, elected representatives, executives and campaign officials were mobilised for the Epe event.
“The entire APC political machinery in Lagos, without exception, was mobilised to Epe for this historic political engagement. Our leaders, elected representatives, party executives, campaign officials and critical stakeholders were fully committed to the success of that event,” he said.
He challenged the NDC to present credible evidence to security agencies if it had any information linking individuals or groups to the incident, rather than resorting to social media allegations.
The spokesman also accused opposition elements of making threats capable of creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, urging security agencies to investigate what he described as increasingly bellicose political rhetoric.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council also condemned reported attacks in Edo, Cross River and Gombe states, as well as violence targeting political supporters and leaders across party lines.
Its spokesman, Dele Alake, urged security agencies to intensify efforts to prevent further attacks, apprehend those responsible and ensure that perpetrators were punished in accordance with the law.
The council called on politicians and their supporters to exercise restraint, stressing that political disagreements should not degenerate into violence.
NDC demands prosecution, Obi condemns violence
THE NDC national leadership condemned the attack, describing it as an assault on democracy, citizens’ fundamental rights and freedom of political association.
In a statement signed by the Spokesperson of its National Campaign Council, Dr Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, the party demanded an immediate investigation, the arrest and prosecution of all those responsible.
It warned that the incident would not intimidate its members or discourage Nigerians from participating in the democratic process.
“Nigeria is not a conquered territory, and political participation is not a crime,” the statement said.
The party urged Nigerians to turn out in large numbers during the 2027 elections, insisting that it would not be bullied out of exercising its democratic rights.
Addressing supporters at the gathering, Obi condemned the attack and brought one of the injured participants to the podium.
He said Nigerians must be able to participate freely in political activities, adding that their sacrifices and commitment to building a better country would not be in vain.
Obi also told Nigerians that they were all candidates in the 2027 elections and should take responsibility for securing the country’s future.
He criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying the President lacked the energy required to discharge the responsibilities of the office.
“People ask me about our President, and I tell them that the Tinubu of Lagos is not the one who is the president today. The one there today is tired and needs to go home. The work of the President of Nigeria requires energy, and you must be available,” he said.
He further condemned the wider atmosphere of violence, recalling his visit to Yelwata, where he said he witnessed families devastated by insecurity.
“This situation represents the Nigeria we don’t want anymore. I was in Yelwata yesterday (Wednesday), and I saw children without parents, husbands without wives, and wives without husbands. We want to build a Nigeria where such things will never happen again,” he said.
The NDC governorship candidate in Lagos, Funsho Doherty, commended supporters for standing their ground during the attack, describing them as the heroes of the gathering.
He attributed the party’s confidence ahead of the elections to what he called people’s power, saying the people would determine the outcome of the polls.
Reps launch investigation into rising violence
MEANWHILE, the House of Representatives has constituted an ad hoc committee to investigate rising political violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Minority Leader, Fred Agbedi, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Bamidele Salam, and 15 other lawmakers.
Leading the debate, Agbedi cited reported attacks in Enugu, Katsina, Nasarawa, Delta and Cross River states, warning that intimidation, assault and disruption of political activities threatened democratic participation and the credibility of the electoral process.
The House consequently condemned violence, intimidation, assault and destruction of property connected with political activities, irrespective of the parties or individuals involved.
The committee, chaired by the Majority Leader, with the Minority Leader as deputy chairman, comprises lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties. It is expected to submit its findings and recommendations within two weeks.
The lawmakers urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to reject inflammatory rhetoric and cooperate with security agencies to maintain public peace.
More attacks raise concerns nationwide
THE Lagos incident adds to a growing list of reported attacks and disruptions involving opposition parties and their supporters across the country.
In September 2025, suspected thugs disrupted an ADC rally at Lion Field, Alimosho, Lagos, organised by supporters of former Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola. The gathering was expected to feature Obi and former Labour Party governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
In February 2026, suspected hoodlums invaded the ADC secretariat in Benin City, Edo State, shortly after a gathering to welcome former Labour Party governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, into the party.
A month later, the launch of an ADC secretariat in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State was disrupted, with canopies, chairs and sound equipment destroyed. The state police command confirmed the incident and said investigations were ongoing.
In March, armed men reportedly attacked ADC members in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, setting the party’s ward secretariat ablaze.
In September, an NDC mobilisation march in the Warri-Effurun axis of Delta State was disrupted following a confrontation involving suspected supporters of the NDC and APC.
The ADC, NDC and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also raised concerns over alleged attacks on opposition members in Enugu State, including a reported shooting in front of the NDC secretariat on October 10.
On November 4, Obi’s convoy reportedly came under attack around Watt Market Roundabout in Calabar, Cross River State, while he was returning from a visit to the Obong of Calabar ahead of a presidential town hall meeting.
Three days later, an NDC one-million-man march organised by supporters of Obi and the Obidient/OK Movement in Asaba, Delta State, was disrupted by suspected hoodlums wielding dangerous weapons.
The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) expressed concern over the incidents in Warri-Effurun, Calabar and Asaba, warning that the region could relapse into political hostility if leaders failed to restrain their supporters.
Its National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, urged political parties, security agencies and other stakeholders to prevent political differences from degenerating into violence.
Similarly, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) warned of an escalating pattern of political violence, intimidation and attacks on candidates, supporters and campaign activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
EU rejects calls for sanctions
AMID growing concerns over electoral violence, the European Union (EU) has said imposing sanctions on Nigerian political stakeholders over reported incidents is outside its responsibility.
The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, stated this yesterday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
He said the EU’s responsibility was to support Nigeria’s electoral process, empower stakeholders and provide platforms for discussing challenges confronting the country’s democracy.
“I was listening to that, and I was thinking: what kind of conception of Nigerian sovereignty is that if you expect from an international partner to sanction, give punishments, give good marks, bad marks to your political and institutional stakeholders? This is not our role,” he said.
Mignot disclosed that the EU was supporting civil society organisations to deploy 5,500 observers during the 2027 elections.
He also cited the EU’s collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and civil society groups on simulations designed to test responses to misinformation, particularly content generated through artificial intelligence.
He said expecting international partners to sanction individuals over domestic political conduct amounted to misplaced expectations, adding that the EU would continue to provide advice and recommendations to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process.
