The attack at Classique Event Centre in Ikeja disrupted preparations for the NDC gathering, leaving vehicles vandalised and several attendees fleeing for safety.
Suspected political thugs on Thursday, November 12, attacked members and supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) at Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos State, disrupting preparations for a town hall meeting featuring the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The incident occurred around 11:00 a.m. at Classique Event Centre along Kudirat Abiola Way, causing panic as attendees, pedestrians and motorists fled the area. Witnesses said Obi and Kwankwaso had yet to arrive when the attackers struck. Shattered glass littered the venue, while several vehicles belonging to party supporters were vandalised.
An injured supporter, who spoke to Channels Television, alleged that hoodlums armed with cutlasses invaded the area to disrupt the gathering. He said NDC members mobilised to resist the attackers, who eventually retreated. Armed policemen and security patrol vehicles were later deployed to restore order.
The atmosphere gradually calmed, with supporters singing, dancing and displaying the party’s flag as they awaited the arrival of their candidates. The NDC governorship candidate in Lagos, Funso Doherty, also arrived to assess the damage.
As of the time of filing this report, the circumstances surrounding the attack and the identities of those responsible remained unclear. The Lagos State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement.
The incident comes amid concerns raised by Obi and the NDC over reported attacks on party supporters in Delta, Cross River and Benue states, including an alleged attack on Obi’s convoy in Calabar. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied involvement in the reported incidents.
The unrest comes ahead of the 2027 general elections, with presidential and National Assembly polls scheduled for January 16, while governorship and state assembly elections are slated for February 6. Lagos is considered a significant electoral battleground, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaring Obi the winner of the state in the 2023 presidential election, ahead of President Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos governor.