Martha Udom
Suspected political thugs on Thursday disrupted a town hall meeting organised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos State, forcing participants to flee and leaving several vehicles vandalised.
The attack occurred around 11:00 a.m. at the Classique Event Centre along Kudirat Abiola Way, where party supporters had gathered ahead of a town hall meeting scheduled to be addressed by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Witnesses said the attackers, armed with cutlasses, cudgels and stones, invaded the venue and forced participants to flee for safety. Vehicles belonging to NDC members and supporters were also vandalised, while shattered glass littered the premises.
A supporter who sustained a head injury told Channels Television that the attackers invaded the area to disrupt the gathering. He said additional NDC members were mobilised to resist them, forcing the assailants to retreat.
One suspected attacker was apprehended by party supporters during the confrontation.
Neither Obi nor Kwankwaso had arrived at the venue when the attack occurred. The NDC governorship candidate in Lagos State, Funso Doherty, later arrived to assess the damage.
A multimedia journalist with TheCable, Samuel Adebanjo, was also attacked while covering the incident. The assailants allegedly beat him and took his camera, gimbal and microphone.
Police operatives arrived at the scene about an hour after the violence began and fired tear gas to restore order. As of the time of filing this report, the Lagos State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident, while the identities of those responsible remained unknown.
Reacting to the attack, the NDC national leadership condemned the incident and called for the immediate investigation, arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the NDC National Campaign Council, Dr Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, the party described the incident as an unacceptable assault on democracy and freedom of political association.
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), however, denied sponsoring the attack.
In a statement issued by its spokesman, Seye Oladejo, the party said it neither sponsored, encouraged nor participated in any act capable of undermining the constitutional rights of political parties to assemble.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council also condemned the incident. Its spokesperson, Dele Alake, called on security agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible for attacks on political gatherings across the country.
The incident adds to concerns over the safety of political gatherings and campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
