The Lagos State Police Command says it has 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.
This is just as the House of Representatives sets 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, to await 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.
The House 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.
Leading the House debate on Thursday, Agbedi 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.
He 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.
The lawmaker cautioned against 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.
NDC Lagos attack
Speaking to 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.
However, 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.”
NDC accuses APC
Reacting, the National Director of Publicity of the NDC, Osai Director, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of masterminding attacks on the party’s members in Lagos and Delta states.
In an interview with The PUNCH on Thursday, Director described the incidents as attempts to undermine democracy.
He said, “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.”
The 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.
Its 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.
APC denies involvement
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 flag-off of its 2027 campaign activities when the incident occurred.
In a statement, Oladejo challenged the NDC to provide evidence linking the APC to the attack and report it to security agencies.
He said, “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.”
The 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.
He said, “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.”
Police confirm attack
The Lagos State Police Command 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.
The command’s 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.” Adebisi added that the situation was promptly brought under control and normalcy had been restored in the area.
She 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 Police Public Relations Officer, 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.
Lagos mega rally
Meanwhile, Obi has vowed to campaign across all parts of Lagos State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi 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 presidential candidate 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.
“We will fight corruption to a standstill. We will stop people from stealing public money,” he said.
He added, “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, Obi 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.
CDHR seeks sanctions
Meanwhile, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights has called for political candidates who benefit from electoral violence to be barred from contesting elections for up to 16 years.
The National President of CDHR, Debo Adeniran, made the call in an interview with The PUNCH on Thursday, urging politicians to caution their supporters against violence.
He said electoral contests should focus on presenting ideas and convincing voters about candidates’ programmes rather than intimidation and street clashes.
“We have actually, at various times, made our position known on electoral violence: that electoral contests shouldn’t be an orgy of violence. It should be about a change of ideas—convincing people of what the programme and agenda of a political party and a particular candidate will be if they win the election,” he said.
Adeniran expressed concern over attacks involving different political parties, including reported incidents affecting the NDC in some states and Oregun, as well as violence against APC members in parts of the North and the Middle Belt.
He urged political leaders to call their supporters to order, warning that injuries and deaths resulting from political clashes could alienate citizens from the parties involved.
“What we are appealing to politicians is to call their supporters to order. They cannot preside over a wounded citizenry,” he said.
The CDHR president called for investigations to identify and prosecute those responsible for political violence, warning that failure to punish perpetrators could encourage further attacks.
He also proposed amendments to electoral laws to ensure that candidates who benefit from violence committed on their behalf face disqualification.
He said such candidates should lose their eligibility to contest elections, either permanently or for at least 16 years.
“Those who cause the problem will be punished, but the beneficiaries of that violence should also face the music by facing state sanctions,” he said.
Concerns mount
The National Peace Committee had said 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory recorded 109 breaches of the National Peace Accord over 10 weeks of monitoring, raising concerns about potential threats to peaceful campaigns and the 2027 general elections.
The centre, in its monitoring report covering the period between August 19 and October 27, published by The PUNCH on Wednesday, identified political violence and thuggery, as well as misinformation and disinformation, as the leading violations, accounting for 33 and 29 incidents, respectively.
It identified Kaduna, Edo and Enugu as election flashpoints, citing recurring political violence, armed disruptions and other security concerns, revealing that the Federal Capital Territory also recorded seven incidents, while Kaduna had the highest number, with nine.
The panel called for investigations into reported violations and urged security agencies to provide equal protection for lawful campaign activities. It also asked political parties and candidates to condemn violence, disown armed groups and ensure accountability for threats and intimidation.
The incidents involved suspected political thugs, armed hoodlums and, in some cases, security-related confrontations. Opposition parties, particularly the NDC, have featured prominently among the reported targets, although supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress have also been attacked.
On September 8, Peter Obi’s convoy was blocked by a crowd of youths along the Gboko–Makurdi road while he was travelling to Yelwata for a humanitarian visit. The incident forced the former Anambra governor to turn back. Police subsequently announced the arrest of 46 suspects.
On September 12, armed men reportedly invaded an NDC ward meeting at Obuoffia, Nkanu West Local Government Area, and opened fire, injuring at least two people. On the same day, suspected hoodlums disrupted a Peoples Democratic Party rally in Agbani, destroying canopies and chairs. The state Commissioner of Police ordered investigations into both incidents.
Also on October 28, suspected political thugs attacked vehicles conveying APC supporters to the Tinubu–Dikko 2027 campaign flag-off in Funtua. The attack along the Yashi–Funtua road in Malumfashi reportedly left a woman injured and several vehicles damaged. The police arrested 14 suspects.
Similarly, on November 4, suspected hoodlums attacked Obi’s convoy around Watt Market in Calabar, throwing stones and bottles and smashing vehicle windscreens. A 27-year-old suspect was nabbed in connection with the attack. A rally organised on November 5 by the Obidient/OK Movement in support of Obi’s presidential ambition was disrupted by violence along Nnebisi Road, Asaba. One person was killed and five others injured, according to the police. The command said it had earlier warned organisers of intelligence suggesting possible violence and advised against an open-road procession.
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