Lagos Attack: NDC Accuses APC of Political Violence, Ruling Party Denies Link
The Nigeria Democratic Congress and the All Progressives Congress have traded accusations over an attack on NDC supporters by suspected political thugs during a town hall meeting in Ikeja, Lagos State.
While the NDC accused the ruling party of promoting political violence and attempting to undermine democracy, the APC denied involvement and urged the opposition party to address its internal affairs.
The dispute followed Thursday’s disruption of an NDC town hall meeting in Ikeja, where hoodlums reportedly armed with cutlasses, cudgels and stones invaded the venue, scattered chairs and forced participants to flee.
The incident triggered a confrontation between the attackers and some NDC supporters, who reportedly resisted the invasion by throwing chairs at them.
Some supporters later pursued the fleeing attackers and apprehended one of them at a car park.
A video of the incident showed some young men surrounding the suspect and hitting him with sticks.
The violence subsequently spilled onto Kudirat Abiola Way, disrupting movement along the road, while policemen reportedly fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd.
Reacting to the incident, the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, described the attack as unfortunate and unwarranted.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Director accused the APC of resorting to what he described as barbaric politics.
“The attacks perpetrated against our members in Lagos State are unfortunate and unwarranted.
“The hard-earned, ruinous APC is planning to destroy our hard-earned democracy by their desperation and demonic politics of barbarism,” he said.
Similarly, the NDC Campaign Council spokesperson, Dr Constance Ikokwu, condemned the reported attack, describing it as an assault on democracy and citizens’ right to political association.
She called for an immediate investigation into the incident and the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
“Nigeria is not a conquered territory, and political participation is not a crime. We demand an immediate investigation, the arrest and prosecution of those responsible, and an end to the dangerous culture of political violence we’re witnessing in some states,” she said.
Ikokwu urged Nigerians to participate in the 2027 general elections, adding that the party and its supporters would not be intimidated.
However, former Lagos APC spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, denied any involvement by his party, noting that the APC was holding a campaign in Epe on the same day as the incident.
Oladejo told The PUNCH that the ruling party was occupied with its political activities and should not be blamed for the attack.
He also urged the NDC to investigate its internal affairs rather than accuse the APC.
“There is nothing to prove that the APC is involved in this. So, they should look inward at the enemies within their party,” he said.
The identities of the attackers, their alleged sponsors and the circumstances surrounding the incident had not been independently established as of the time of filing this report.
By Oluwafemi Shodipe.
