The Lagos State Police Command and Nigeria’s House of Representatives have both initiated inquiries following a violent assault on supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) at a political gathering organized for presidential hopeful Peter Obi in the Oregun district of Lagos.
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The incident occurred at the Classique Event Place along Kudirat Abiola Way, where party faithful had assembled ahead of Obi’s arrival. Suspected armed thugs disrupted the event, leading to clashes that were captured on video and circulated widely across social media.
Parliament Sets Up Panel on Rising Political Unrest
Following the disruption, the House of Representatives resolved on Thursday to establish a special ad hoc committee to examine the escalating trend of political intimidation and violence ahead of the 2027 general elections. The decision stemmed from an urgent motion sponsored by House Minority Leader Fred Agbedi alongside 16 colleagues.
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During the floor debate, Agbedi warned that unchecked hostilities could jeopardize public faith in the democratic process and derail upcoming elections. He highlighted provisions under Section 40 and Section 88(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which defend the right to peaceful assembly and empower parliament to investigate state enforcement agencies.
Agbedi outlined a disturbing pattern of recent unrest across the country:
Enugu State (Sept. 12): A disrupted gathering resulted in one fatality and two injuries. Katsina State (Oct. 28): An assault on APC supporters led to the arrest of 14 individuals. Nasarawa State (Nov. 4): An APC rally in Lafia was targeted, leaving multiple attendees injured. Delta State (Nov. 7): A political march in Asaba turned fatal, claiming one life and injuring five others.
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The newly formed committee will be led by House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere. The panel—comprising the Minority Leader, senior members of the Police Affairs and Intelligence committees, and other lawmakers—has been granted a three-week window to deliver its findings on the root causes of the unrest.
Eyewitnesses Recount Chaos at the Venue
Describing the chaos in Lagos, the NDC candidate for the Ikeja Federal Constituency, Joseph Orukpe, stated that armed assailants stormed the premises while preparations were underway, smashing vehicles and assaulting attendees before party members managed to detain one suspect.
Another attendee recounted being struck with a glass bottle during the melee while trying to protect fellow supporters and property from the intruders.
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The apprehended individual, identified as Ibrahim, rejected claims of political sabotage, insisting he had only visited the venue in hopes of receiving alms from affluent guests.
Political Accusations Surface
In the wake of the disturbance, NDC National Director of Publicity Osai Director pointed fingers at the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that the ruling party was orchestrating disruptions against NDC gatherings in Lagos and Delta to destabilize democratic opposition.
A violent disruption targeted a Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) town hall meeting in the Oregun area of Lagos State, sparking sharp accusations between the opposition party and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the Lagos State chapter of the NDC, roughly 200 suspected political thugs stormed the Classique Event Place in Alausa, injuring several attendees and vandalizing parked vehicles. The opposition party strongly denounced the assault, accusing the APC of resorting to intimidation and violent tactics to undermine democratic processes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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Olushile Akinyemi, the Publicity Secretary for the NDC in Lagos, alleged that security personnel present at the venue failed to protect attendees during the onslaught.
“We had security operatives on the ground—we had the DSS and the police—but they all stood down,” Akinyemi stated. “They did not take any action. They watched them unleash terror on us and gave excuses afterwards.”
He noted that party members managed to apprehend one of the suspected assailants and handed him over to law enforcement.
Echoing the condemnation, Ayodele David-Agbesua, the NDC’s House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti State’s Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency, labeled the incident a direct assault on democratic freedoms. He called on the Lagos State Government, the police, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to conduct a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to book.
APC Rejects Allegations of Complicity
The Lagos State chapter of the APC swiftly dismissed the allegations, describing claims of its involvement as completely unfounded. The party’s Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, clarified that APC leadership and campaign teams were attending the official launch of their 2027 campaign in Epe when the violence occurred.
“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,” Oladejo said. He urged the NDC to submit any verifiable evidence to law enforcement agencies rather than making unsubstantiated claims.
At the national level, the APC Presidential Campaign Council also condemned political violence in Lagos and other parts of the country. Campaign spokesperson Dele Alake appealed for calm and urged political actors to show restraint.
“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,” Alake stated.
Police Confirm Disturbance, Launch Investigation
The Lagos State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that officers were dispatched following a distress call from the Classique Event Place. Command spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi disclosed that two injured men, identified as Akinyemi Akeem and Ibrahim Babsule, were transported to the Emergency Centre at Toll Gate for treatment.
Adebisi indicated that preliminary findings suggest the two injured individuals may have been actively involved in the clash, noting that detectives are currently determining their specific roles. She added that calm has been restored to the area and assured that all responsible parties will face justice.
In a related development concerning separate political violence, Delta State Police Public Relations Officer Bright Edafe reported that authorities have yet to establish the identity of a victim killed in an incident in Asaba, with no arrests confirmed so far.
Obi Pledges Broad Engagement Across Lagos
Despite the disruption, political figure Peter Obi affirmed his commitment to engaging voters across every corner of Lagos State ahead of the 2027 elections. Speaking to supporters at the Lagos event, he maintained that the gathering was structured as a community listening session rather than a standard political rally.
“Today is not a campaign,” Obi told the crowd, emphasizing the importance of directly understanding the grievances and concerns of ordinary citizens.
Labour Party presidential hopeful Peter Obi has pledged to take his campaign to every corner of Lagos State, describing town hall sessions as vital platforms to engage directly with the electorate and address their concerns.
Speaking alongside his wife and the party’s Lagos State governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, Obi called on party members and loyalists to remain steadfast in their push to reshape Nigeria’s future, promising that their efforts would yield tangible results.
The former governor of Anambra State highlighted Lagos as the backbone of the nation’s economy, yet noted it has not reached the transformative economic output seen in global hubs like Shanghai or London. He maintained that achieving such milestones requires strong leadership, endorsing Doherty to spearhead that growth.
Decisive Action on Insecurity and Critical Infrastructure
Reflecting on a recent trip to Yelwata—where over 270 residents lost their lives in a single night of violence—Obi underlined the urgent necessity to eradicate fear and displacement nationwide. He stressed that a new administration must be responsive to victims of unrest and prevent such tragedies from recurring.
Obi stated that alongside his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, national unity and citizen protection would take top priority. He vowed decisive measures against perpetrators of violence, assuring Nigerians that safety would be restored across all regions.
Outlining his governance agenda, Obi committed to:
Aggressively combating public-sector corruption and fiscal waste. Increasing electricity generation, transmission, and distribution to at least 10,000 megawatts within two to three years. Implementing free, compulsory basic education nationwide. Establishing operational primary healthcare facilities in every electoral ward through fully structured funding models.
Turning his focus to the incumbent administration, Obi criticized President Bola Tinubu’s readiness for office, arguing that effective leadership demands full-time vigor, consistency, and presence.
Rights Group Demands Stiff Penalties for Political Violence
In a related development, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has advocated for severe sanctions against political figures linked to election-related unrest, recommending a 16-year ban from public office for any candidates who benefit from violent tactics.
Debo Adeniran, the national president of the CDHR, urged political figures to reign in aggressive supporters and redirect campaign efforts toward constructive policy debates rather than intimidation.
Adeniran voiced serious alarm over violent incidents affecting various political factions across several regions, warning that bloodshed only serves to alienate voters and fracture the country.
The leadership of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has called for decisive legal action and electoral reforms to curb escalating political violence, warning that unpunished thuggery threatens the foundation of upcoming elections.
Advocating for systemic accountability, the CDHR president urged lawmakers to amend existing electoral legislation so that candidates who profit from politically motivated attacks face automatic disqualification. Under the proposed reforms, offending politicians would be barred from seeking public office for a minimum of 16 years, or face a lifetime ban.
“Those who cause the problem will be punished, but the beneficiaries of that violence should also face the music by facing state sanctions,” the CDHR president stated.Peace Accord Violations Raise Red Flags Ahead of 2027
The call for stricter penalties comes in the wake of troubling data released by the National Peace Committee. According to its 10-week surveillance report covering August 19 through October 27, monitor teams documented 109 breaches of the National Peace Accord spanning 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The report highlighted physical violence and thuggery as the most frequent infractions, with 33 recorded cases, closely followed by misinformation and disinformation campaigns, which accounted for 29 incidents.
State-level monitoring identified several major flashpoints:
Kaduna State: Recorded the highest number of infractions nationwide, with nine reported incidents. Federal Capital Territory: Registered seven separate violations. Enugu and Edo States: Flagged for persistent armed disruptions, recurring political unrest, and heightened security risks.
In response to the findings, the peace panel urged law enforcement agencies to provide equitable security coverage for all legitimate campaign events. It also challenged party leadership across the board to publicly denounce armed factions and hold perpetrators accountable.
Widespread Incidents Target Rival Factions
Recent months have seen a surge in confrontations involving armed groups, partisan thugs, and security operatives, affecting both opposition groups and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Several high-profile disruptions have been recorded across multiple states:
September 8 (Benue State): A convoy transporting Peter Obi on a humanitarian visit to Yelwata was obstructed by an unruly crowd along the Gboko–Makurdi expressway, forcing the former Anambra governor to abandon the trip. Police subsequently detained 46 individuals in connection with the blockade.
September 12 (Enugu State): Gunmen opened fire on an opposition party ward gathering in Obuoffia, Nkanu West Local Government Area, leaving two attendees wounded. On the same day, armed assailants ransacked a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally in Agbani, destroying seating and event infrastructure. State police authorities have launched investigations into both attacks.
October 28 (Katsina State): Suspected political thugs ambushed vehicles transporting APC supporters along the Yashi–Funtua road in Malumfashi ahead of the Tinubu–Dikko 2027 campaign launch. The attack left one woman injured and several vehicles damaged, leading to the arrest of 14 suspects.
November 4 (Cross River State): Obi’s convoy was targeted near Watt Market in Calabar, where assailants hurled stones and glass bottles, shattering vehicle windscreens. A 27-year-old suspect was apprehended at the scene.
November 5 (Delta State): A procession organised by the Obidient/OK Movement along Nnebisi Road in Asaba descended into violence, leaving one person dead and five others injured. Police officials noted that organisers had previously been advised against conducting open-road rallies due to actionable intelligence warning of imminent clashes.
