Political tension escalates as suspected thugs storm Lagos venue, smash vehicles and send supporters fleeing; APC urges police to hunt down attackers and prosecute those responsible.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has condemned the violent disruption of a Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) town hall meeting in Lagos, calling on security agencies to track down, arrest and prosecute those responsible.
The condemnation followed Thursday’s attack on NDC members and supporters at the Classique Event Centre along Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, where suspected political thugs reportedly stormed the venue ahead of a scheduled town hall meeting featuring the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The attack, which occurred at about 11:00 a.m. on November 12, 2026, triggered panic as attendees scampered for safety. Motorists made frantic U-turns to escape the unfolding chaos, while pedestrians fled the surrounding area.
Neither Obi nor Kwankwaso had arrived at the venue when the assailants struck.
The attackers reportedly wielded cutlasses, vandalised vehicles belonging to party supporters and damaged property, leaving shattered glass scattered around the premises.
A supporter who sustained a head injury told Channels Television that the hoodlums invaded the area in an apparent attempt to frustrate the gathering. He said NDC members subsequently mobilised to confront the attackers, who eventually retreated.
Armed policemen and patrol vehicles were later deployed to the venue to restore order and prevent further violence.
Despite the disruption, NDC supporters returned to the premises, singing, dancing and waving the party's flag as they awaited the arrival of their presidential candidates. The party's Lagos State governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, also visited the venue to assess the damage.
Reacting to the incident, the APC Presidential Campaign Council, through its spokesperson, Dele Alake, condemned attacks on political gatherings in different parts of the country, including reported incidents in Edo, Cross River and Gombe states.
The council described the violence as unacceptable and urged security agencies to identify, apprehend and prosecute everyone involved, including those who may have instigated the attacks.
It also warned political parties, candidates and supporters against actions capable of provoking violence, urging them to pursue issue-based campaigns rather than resort to intimidation and disorder.
The Lagos attack has further heightened concerns over political violence ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Obi and the NDC raising alarms over reported hostilities against their supporters in Delta, Cross River and Benue states, as well as an earlier reported attack on Obi's convoy in Calabar.
The APC has previously denied involvement in the incidents.
As of the time of filing this report, the identities of the Lagos attackers and the circumstances surrounding the assault remained unclear. The Lagos State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement.
With the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, and governorship and state assembly elections slated for February 6, the latest incident has renewed questions about the safety of political gatherings and the ability of security agencies to prevent violence as the election season gathers momentum.
APC Condemns Attack on Obi-Kwankwaso’s NDC Meeting, Demands Arrest of Perpetrators
