Precious Nwonu, Enugu
The Lagos State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the disruption of a town hall meeting organised for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Oregun, Lagos State.
The House of Representatives has also constituted an ad hoc committee to investigate reported cases of political violence, attacks on political gatherings and other disruptions across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The House committee was established on Thursday following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the Minority Leader, Fred Agbedi, alongside 16 other lawmakers.
The incident in Lagos occurred on Thursday when NDC supporters gathered at Classique Event Place, along Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, ahead of Obi’s arrival for the town hall meeting. Videos circulating online showed a confrontation between suspected thugs and party supporters.
During the debate, Agbedi condemned attacks, intimidation, assault and destruction of property at political gatherings, warning that such incidents could threaten the peaceful conduct of the 2027 elections.
He cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of assembly and association, including the right to belong to political parties.
The lawmaker also invoked Section 88(1), urging the National Assembly to investigate the circumstances surrounding reported attacks and assess the response of relevant public authorities.
Among the incidents he highlighted were the disruption of political meetings in Enugu State on September 12, which reportedly left two people injured and one dead; an attack on APC supporters in Katsina State on October 28, leading to the arrest of 14 suspects; and violence at an APC rally in Lafia, Nasarawa State, on November 4.
He also cited a November 7 incident during a political procession in Asaba, Delta State, where one person was reportedly killed and five others injured.
Agbedi cautioned against attributing responsibility for the attacks without proper investigations, calling for impartial inquiries based on evidence.
The House appointed its Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, as chairman of the committee and gave it three weeks to investigate the immediate and underlying causes of political violence nationwide.
The committee will include the Minority Leader, chairmen and deputy chairmen of the Committees on Police Affairs and National Security and Intelligence, as well as two other lawmakers.
**NDC alleges attack**
Speaking on the incident, the party’s candidate for Ikeja Federal Constituency, Joseph Orukpe, alleged that armed men invaded the venue, damaged vehicles and attacked supporters.
He said party members were forced to defend themselves, leading to the apprehension of one of the suspected attackers.
An NDC supporter, who spoke to Channels Television anonymously, also alleged that he sustained a head injury after one of the attackers broke a bottle on him.
However, a man identified as Ibrahim, who was reportedly apprehended at the venue, denied being involved in the violence. He told News Central that he had gone to the gathering to seek financial assistance.
The NDC’s National Director of Publicity, Osai Director, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of being behind attacks on the party’s members in Lagos and Delta states.
The Lagos chapter of the party also alleged that about 200 suspected political thugs invaded the venue, leaving four people injured and several vehicles damaged.
Its Publicity Secretary, Olushile Akinyemi, claimed that police and Department of State Services personnel present at the scene failed to intervene.
He said one of the suspected attackers was apprehended and handed over to the police.
The NDC House of Representatives candidate for Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency in Ekiti State, Ayodele David-Agbesua, also called on security agencies to investigate the incident and arrest those responsible.
**APC rejects allegations**
The Lagos State chapter of the APC denied involvement in the disruption, describing the allegations against the party as baseless.
Its Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, said APC members and campaign officials were attending the flag-off of the party’s 2027 campaign activities in Epe when the incident occurred.
He challenged the NDC to present any evidence linking the APC to the attack to security agencies.
Oladejo condemned political violence and called on security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering to prevent attacks on political gatherings.
Similarly, APC Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson, Dele Alake, condemned attacks on political meetings in Lagos and other states.
Alake urged security agencies to prevent further violence and ensure that those responsible were arrested and prosecuted.
**Police confirm injuries, begin investigation**
The Lagos State Police Command confirmed receiving a distress call over the attack at Classique Event Place.
The command’s spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, said two men identified as Akinyemi Akeem and Ibrahim Babsule sustained serious injuries and were taken to the Emergency Centre, Toll Gate, for treatment.
She explained that preliminary information suggested the injured men were allegedly among those involved in the incident, adding that their respective roles were being investigated.
Adebisi said police operatives restored order at the scene and had commenced investigations to establish what happened and identify those responsible.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Police Command said it had yet to establish the identity of the person reportedly killed during the November 7 incident in Asaba.
The command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, also did not confirm whether any suspect had been arrested.
**Obi promises statewide campaign**
Despite the disruption, Obi assured supporters that he would campaign across all parts of Lagos State ahead of the 2027 elections.
Addressing the gathering, the former Anambra State governor said the town hall meeting was organised to listen to residents and understand their concerns, rather than serve as a campaign rally.
He attended the event alongside his wife and the NDC’s Lagos governorship candidate, Funso Doherty.
Obi urged party supporters and candidates to remain committed to their political aspirations, promising that their sacrifices would not be wasted.
He described Lagos as central to Nigeria’s economy but argued that the state had not achieved the level of economic transformation seen in cities such as Shanghai and London.
He also pledged to prioritise security, tackle corruption, improve electricity supply, make basic education free and compulsory, and establish functional primary healthcare centres in every ward if elected.
The presidential candidate further criticised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, arguing that the demands of the presidency required consistent attention and availability.
**Human rights group seeks sanctions**
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights has called for tougher penalties against politicians who benefit from electoral violence, proposing that such candidates should be barred from contesting elections for up to 16 years.
The group’s National President, Debo Adeniran, said political campaigns should focus on presenting policies and persuading voters rather than intimidation and violence.
He urged political leaders to caution their supporters and called for the prosecution of individuals responsible for attacks on political gatherings.
Adeniran also proposed amendments to electoral laws to ensure that candidates who benefit from violence committed on their behalf face sanctions.
**Peace committee raises alarm**
The National Peace Committee has also expressed concern over rising political violence ahead of the 2027 elections.
Its monitoring report covering August 19 to October 27 identified 109 breaches of the National Peace Accord across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Political violence and thuggery accounted for 33 reported incidents, while misinformation and disinformation recorded 29.
The committee identified Kaduna, Edo and Enugu as potential election flashpoints, citing recurring violence, armed disruptions and other security concerns. Kaduna recorded the highest number of reported incidents, with nine, while the FCT recorded seven.
It called on security agencies to investigate reported violations and provide equal protection for lawful political activities. Political parties and candidates were also urged to condemn violence and disassociate themselves from armed groups.
Other reported incidents in recent months include the obstruction of Obi’s convoy along the Gboko-Makurdi road on September 8, which led to the arrest of 46 suspects; attacks on political meetings in Enugu on September 12; and an October 28 assault on vehicles conveying APC supporters in Katsina State, for which 14 suspects were arrested.
On November 4, suspected hoodlums also attacked Obi’s convoy around Watt Market in Calabar, Cross River State, with a 27-year-old suspect reportedly arrested.
A political procession organised by the Obidient/OK Movement in support of Obi in Asaba on November 5 was also disrupted. The Delta State Police Command said one person was killed and five others injured.
The series of incidents has heightened concerns about the safety of political gatherings and the possibility of further violence as parties prepare for the 2027 general elections.
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