… APC Campaign Council condemns attack on Obi’s NDC supporters in Lagos, demands arrest of political thugs; Reps launch nationwide probe as EU warns on intimidation, hate speech
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign organisation, the House of Representatives, and the European Union have raised serious concerns over the growing wave of political violence across Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that attacks on political gatherings, intimidation of opposition supporters, and inflammatory rhetoric pose grave threats to the country’s democratic process.
The concerns intensified on Thursday following the reported invasion of a Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) town hall meeting in Lagos by suspected political thugs, an incident that drew condemnation from the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC), the NDC, and the Lagos State chapter of the ruling party.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, and made available to KTH Daily, the Tinubu campaign condemned attacks on political gatherings irrespective of party affiliation and demanded decisive action by security agencies to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those responsible.
The campaign council specifically denounced the disruption of the NDC meeting in Lagos, where supporters of the opposition party had gathered as part of activities promoting the presidential ambition of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.
“Our campaign strongly condemns the disruption of today’s scheduled town hall meeting of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Lagos,” the statement declared.
The council also expressed concern over reported attacks in Edo, Cross River, and Gombe states, describing the growing incidents of violence against political leaders and supporters across party lines as unacceptable.
“We have observed the recent spate of violent attacks at political gatherings in parts of the country. The reported attacks in Edo, Cross River, and Gombe, and other violence targeted at party supporters and political leaders across party lines are condemnable,” Alake stated.
The APC-PCC urged political parties, candidates, and their supporters to exercise restraint as electioneering activities gathered momentum, warning against actions capable of provoking public disorder or undermining the democratic process.
It particularly challenged security agencies to strengthen preventive measures and ensure that perpetrators of politically motivated violence faced the full weight of the law.
“We call on the security agencies to be more responsive and alert in preventing political violence of any type and ensure instigators and perpetrators are apprehended and punished in accordance with the law,” the statement said.
The council further urged candidates and political parties to concentrate on programmes capable of improving the welfare of Nigerians rather than encouraging hostility and confrontation.
“Political parties and candidates are enjoined to campaign on issues that uplift the lives of Nigerians and not to instigate violence at political events,” it added.
The intervention by the President’s campaign organisation represents a significant condemnation of political violence affecting both ruling-party and opposition supporters, amid growing apprehension that the electioneering season could witness further confrontations unless decisive preventive measures are taken.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has moved to investigate the rising incidents of politically motivated violence, intimidation, and disruption of campaign activities across the country.
At its plenary on Thursday, the House adopted a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Minority Leader Fred Agbedi and 16 other lawmakers, expressing concern over attacks on political meetings, rallies, and processions in several states.
Presenting the motion, Agbedi warned that continued violence could discourage Nigerians from participating in the electoral process, undermine public confidence, and lead to further loss of lives.
He recalled the disruption of political meetings in Enugu State on September 12, 2026, during which two persons were reportedly injured and another allegedly killed.
The lawmaker also cited an October 28 attack on APC supporters travelling to a rally in Katsina State, which resulted in the arrest of 14 suspects.
In Nasarawa State, he recalled that several people were reportedly injured during an attack on an APC rally in Lafia on November 4.
Agbedi further drew attention to the November 7 political violence in Asaba, Delta State, where police reportedly confirmed that one person was killed and five others injured during a political procession.
He stressed that the constitutional rights of Nigerians to peaceful assembly, association, and political participation must be protected regardless of party affiliation.
Citing Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the Minority Leader reminded the House that every Nigerian was entitled to associate freely with others, including through membership of political parties.
He also invoked Section 88(1), which empowers the National Assembly to investigate matters within its legislative competence and examine the conduct of relevant public authorities.
Following deliberations, the House constituted an ad hoc committee headed by House Leader Julius Ihonvbere to investigate the immediate and remote causes of politically motivated violence nationwide.
The committee, comprising principal officers and members of relevant security committees, was given three weeks to submit its findings.
The lawmakers emphasised that responsibility for the attacks must be established through impartial and evidence-based investigations rather than political accusations.
The National Assembly’s intervention came barely 24 hours after the European Union expressed similar concerns over rising political intimidation, hate speech, and election-related violence in Nigeria.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Civil Society and Human Rights Defenders Forum on the State of Human Rights in Abuja, the EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, warned that such developments threatened democratic gains and could discourage citizens from exercising their electoral rights.
Mignot’s remarks underscored growing international concern over the political atmosphere ahead of the February 2027 elections, particularly the need to guarantee peaceful campaigns, freedom of association, and the safety of voters and political actors.
The concerns of the EU, the National Assembly, and the President’s campaign council have now converged on the need for stronger security responses and accountability for politically motivated attacks.
Meanwhile, the NDC has demanded an immediate investigation into the reported attack on its supporters during a town hall meeting in Oregun, along Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja, Lagos.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson of its National Campaign Council, Dr Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, the party described the incident as an assault on democracy and the fundamental rights of citizens.
The NDC alleged that suspected political thugs invaded the gathering in an attempt to intimidate its supporters and disrupt legitimate political activities.
“This incident is an unacceptable assault on democracy, citizens’ fundamental rights and the freedom of political association. No political party or group has a monopoly on Nigeria, and no one has the right to use violence, intimidation or thuggery to silence opposing voices,” the party stated.
It demanded the arrest and prosecution of those responsible, insisting that intimidation would not prevent its members from participating in the 2027 elections.
The party also expressed sympathy for those reportedly injured during the incident and called for an end to political violence across the country.
However, the Lagos State chapter of the APC rejected suggestions that it was responsible for the disruption.
Its Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, described allegations linking the ruling party to the attack as baseless and challenged the NDC to provide credible evidence to security agencies.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Lagos APC categorically rejects any insinuation of involvement, direct or indirect, in the alleged disruption of the said political gathering,” Oladejo declared.
He maintained that the party neither sponsored nor encouraged violence against opposition supporters, pointing out that its leadership and members were engaged in the official flag-off of the APC’s 2027 campaign in Epe when the reported incident occurred.
Oladejo urged the Lagos State Police Command and the Department of State Services to investigate the attack and establish the identities of those responsible.
The Lagos APC reiterated its commitment to peaceful and issue-based campaigns, insisting that political differences must never become justification for lawlessness.
KTH Daily reports that with less than three months to the presidential election, the growing catalogue of attacks on supporters of both the ruling and opposition parties has heightened concerns over the safety of political gatherings and the ability of security agencies to guarantee an atmosphere conducive to credible elections.
The latest developments have also placed renewed attention on the responsibility of political leaders to restrain their supporters and ensure that electoral competition does not degenerate into violence.
For the Tinubu campaign, the position is that political disagreements must be settled through peaceful democratic engagement, with security agencies expected to act firmly against offenders regardless of their political affiliations.
The House investigation and the calls for decisive security intervention are expected to test the willingness of political institutions and law enforcement authorities to confront electoral violence before the country goes to the polls in 2027.
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