…as NDC accuses APC of masterminding attack
Police in Lagos have launched an investigation into an attack on supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress at a town hall meeting organised for the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Oregun, Lagos.
Also, the House of Representatives has set up an ad hoc committee to investigate reported cases of political violence, attacks on political gatherings and disruption of political activities across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The move followed a motion of urgent public importance adopted by the House on Thursday, amid the attack by suspected
thugs on supporters of the NDC in Lagos.
Members of the NDC had gathered at the Classique Event Place, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, awaiting the arrival of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, when the suspected thugs stormed the venue.
Videos of the incident, which circulated on social media, showed a confrontation between the suspected attackers and party supporters.
House of Representatives constituted the ad hoc committee after adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the House Minority Leader, Fred Agbedi, and 16 other lawmakers.
Agbedi, who led the House debate on Thursday, condemned violence, intimidation, assault and destruction of property at political rallies, meetings and other lawful political activities, regardless of the parties involved.
He warned that the incidents, if left unchecked, could threaten the peaceful conduct of the 2027 elections and undermine public confidence in the democratic process.
The lawmaker cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to assemble freely and associate with others, including forming or belonging to political parties.
He also invoked section 88(1) of the Constitution, urging the House to investigate the circumstances surrounding the reported attacks and examine the performance of public authorities responsible for enforcing relevant laws.
Agbedi cited several incidents, including the disruption of political meetings in Enugu State on September 12, during which two people were reportedly injured and one killed; an attack on APC supporters in Katsina State on October 28, which led to the arrest of 14 suspects; and an attack on an APC rally in Lafia, Nasarawa State, on November 4, where several people were reportedly injured.
The lawmaker also recalled a violent incident during a political procession in Asaba, Delta State, on November 7, in which one person was reportedly killed and five others injured.
He warned cautioned reaching conclusions on those responsible without proper investigations, calling for impartial and evidence-based inquiries.
The House subsequently appointed its Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, to chair the committee, which was given three weeks to investigate the immediate and remote causes of political violence across the country and submit its findings.
Its membership includes the House Minority Leader and chairmen and deputy chairmen of the committees on Police Affairs and National Security and Intelligence, alongside two additional members.
Meanwhile, in a chat with News Central on Thursday, the NDC candidate for Ikeja Federal Constituency, Joseph Orukpe, said the attackers, who were armed with dangerous weapons, damaged vehicles and injured members of the party.
He said, “We were on the ground trying to organise the town hall for His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi. While the organisation was going on, several thugs armed with dangerous weapons stormed the venue.
“They started destroying vehicles and attacked our members. We had to stand up to defend ourselves and, in the process, we apprehended one of them.”
An NDC supporter, who spoke to Channels Television without disclosing his identity, alleged that the attackers broke a bottle on his head.
“On our arrival here to wait for our president, the thugs came and started breaking vehicles and materials. They pushed us to the wall. We resisted and said enough was enough. In the process, I got injured because they broke a bottle on my head,” he said.
But a man identified as Ibrahim, who was reportedly apprehended by NDC supporters, denied involvement in the attack.
Speaking to News Central, he said, “Anywhere I see important people gathered, I usually go there. Nobody sent me to come here; I have only come to beg for money.”
National Director of Publicity of the NDC, Osai Director, in his reaction, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of masterminding attacks on the party’s members in Lagos and Delta states.
Director described the incidents as attempts to undermine democracy.
According to him, “Attacks perpetrated against our members in Delta and Lagos states are unfortunate and unwarranted.
“The ruling and ruinous APC is planning to destroy our hard-earned democracy by its desperation and demonic politics of barbarism.”
Lagos State chapter of the NDC also alleged that about 200 suspected political thugs invaded the Oregun venue, leaving four people injured and damaging vehicles.
State Publicity Secretary, Olushile Akinyemi, alleged that security operatives, including personnel of the Department of State Services and the police, failed to intervene.
“We had security operatives on the ground—we had the DSS and the police—but they all stood down. I don’t know why they did that. They did not take any action. They watched them unleash terror on us and gave excuses afterwards,” he said.
Akinyemi added that one of the suspected attackers was apprehended and handed over to the police.
Also condemning the incident, the NDC House of Representatives candidate for Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency, Ekiti State, Ayodele David-Agbesua, called on security agencies to investigate the attack and arrest those responsible.
He described the incident as an assault on democratic participation, urging the police, the DSS and the Lagos State Government to act.
However, the Lagos State chapter of the APC denied sponsoring or participating in the disruption of the NDC gathering, describing the allegation as false and baseless.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, said its members and campaign officials were in Epe for the kick-off of its 2027 campaign activities when the incident occurred.
Oladejo challenged the NDC to provide evidence linking the APC to the attack and report it to security agencies.
The APC spokesperson’s statement read, “We have neither sponsored, encouraged nor participated in any act capable of undermining the constitutional rights of any political party or group to assemble, deliberate and canvass for political support.
“If the NDC has credible evidence linking any individual or group to the incident, the appropriate course is to present such evidence to the relevant security agencies and allow the law to take its course.”
APC condemned political violence and urged security agencies to improve intelligence gathering and prevent attacks on political gatherings.
Also, the APC Presidential Campaign Council condemned attacks on political gatherings in Lagos and other states, calling for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
Its spokesperson, Dele Alake, in a statement, urged political parties and their supporters to exercise restraint as preparations for the 2027 elections gathered momentum.
His statement partly read, “We call on the security agencies to be more responsive and alert in preventing political violence of any type and ensuring that instigators and perpetrators are apprehended and punished in accordance with the law.”
Meanwhile, police in Lagos have confirmed the attack on NDC members, noting that two men identified as Akinyemi Akeem and Ibrahim Babsule sustained serious injuries and were taken to the Emergency Centre, Toll Gate, for medical attention.
State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, in a statement, explained that preliminary information suggested that the injured men were allegedly among those involved in the attack, adding that their respective roles were being investigated.
She said, “The Command confirms that it received a distress call, reporting an attack on members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress during their town hall meeting at Classique Event Place, Oregun, Alausa.
“Two male persons, identified as Akinyemi Akeem and Ibrahim Babsule, sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the Emergency Centre, Toll Gate, for medical attention.”
The PPRO added that the situation was promptly brought under control and normalcy had been restored in the area.
The police added that the command had commenced an investigation into the incident and would ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.
“The command is investigating the incident and will ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, the Delta State PPRO, Bright Edafe, said the identity of the victim killed during the Asaba incident had yet to be established.
“The identity has not been ascertained yet, please,” he said.
Edafe could not confirm whether any suspect had been arrested in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile, Obi has vowed to campaign across all parts of Lagos State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The NDC presidential candidate gave the assurance while addressing his supporters at the town hall meeting in Lagos on Thursday, where he said the engagement was not a campaign rally but an opportunity to listen to residents and understand their concerns.
“Today is not a campaign. We will campaign in every part of Lagos State. Our town hall meeting is an opportunity for us to listen to the people. We want to serve the people, and we must listen to them. That will give us the idea of what they want,” he said.
Obi, who attended the meeting with his wife and the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos, Funso Doherty, urged supporters and party candidates to remain committed to the pursuit of a new Nigeria.
“Let me assure you all that your sacrifice and dedication for this new Nigeria will not be in vain,” he told the gathering.
The former Anambra State governor said Lagos was central to Nigeria’s economy but argued that the state had yet to attain the level of economic transformation achieved by cities such as Shanghai in China and London in the United Kingdom.
“Lagos is important to us. Lagos is the mainstream of our economy, but today Lagos is not doing what Shanghai did to China or London did to the UK. We want Lagos to power Nigeria, and to power Nigeria, we want someone like Funso Doherty,” he said.
Obi also spoke about insecurity, recalling his visit to Yelwata, a community where he said more than 270 people were killed in a single night.
He said the experience reinforced the need to build a country where citizens could live without fear of attacks and displacement.
“I saw children without parents, I saw husbands without wives, I saw wives without husbands, and I asked God, who will listen to their cries? That is the Nigeria we want to build, a Nigeria where such things will not happen again,” he said.
The NDC flagbearer presidential said he and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, were committed to national unity and would prioritise the security of lives and property if elected.
“We will ensure the security of lives and property under Rabiu Kwankwaso and me. If you kidnap schoolchildren and go into the bush, we will be in that bush with you. People will be free to travel to any part of Nigeria,” he said.
On the economy and public services, Obi promised to tackle corruption, improve electricity generation and distribution, make basic education compulsory and free, and ensure that every ward in the country had a functional primary healthcare centre.
He said, “We will fight corruption to a standstill. We will stop people from stealing public money.
“Within two to three years, they will see that this country can generate, transmit and distribute at least 10,000 megawatts of electricity.”
Obi also pledged to provide compulsory and free basic education and functional primary healthcare centres in every ward, insisting that his team had worked out funding arrangements for the proposed programmes.
Taking a swipe at President Bola Tinubu, the NDC flagbearer said the president’s current approach to the office differed from what he described as the demands of the country’s highest political position.
“Somebody asked me about our president, and I said the Tinubu of Lagos State is not the one that is president today. The one that is president today is tired; he needs to go home,” he said.
He added that the Presidency required consistent attention and availability.
“The work of the President of Nigeria requires energy, and you must be available. It is not something you pick and choose the day you wake up, and the day you won’t wake up. You have to be there every day. That is what we want to offer,” Obi said.
