RESISTANCE AGAINST THUGGERY: Obi, Doherty Condemn “APC Thugs Attack” On NDC Meeting In Lagos, Insist Support Base Strong Ahead Of 2027

*Political violence won’t deter NDC from pursuing its political ambitions – Obi

*For the time, Thursday’s attackers encountered NDC supporters determined to defend their political participation – Doherty

*They tried to stop us but they failed as we overpowered them – NDC Supporters

*Allow police to what they should do, Ekujimi tells authorities

By KEMI KASUMU

Members of the NDC said the APC thugs to overpower them but they failed because they were never ever resisted the way they saw Thursday at Oregon. “It will continue this way because nobody, under any guide, can intimidate to prevent us from our free and safe participation in the politics of our country,” one of them vowed.

The Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, and the party’s Lagos State Governorship Candidate, Mr. Funso Doherty, have condemned the disruption of the party’s townhall meeting by recalcitrants identified by the opposition party members and supporters as ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) thugs in Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos State, calling for peaceful political engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While Obi urged Nigerians and political parties to embrace peace, fairness and democratic values, Doherty expressed confidence that the former Anambra State governor retained a strong support base in Lagos and could repeat his 2023 electoral victory in the state.

The town hall meeting, held at Classic Event Place, Oregun, on Thursday November 12, 2026, was disrupted when the alleged APC thugs numbering 70 stormed the venue ahead of Obi’s arrival, causing panic and disrupting the gathering.

The incident, captured in videos circulating on social media, involved attackers armed with cutlasses, cudgels and stones. Several vehicles parked within the premises had their windscreens smashed, while sounds of gunshots were also heard.

One of the thugs apprehended, following self-defence effort of the NDC members, sustained injuries to his legs but denied being sent by anyone to attack the gathering. “Expectedly, they won’t say they were sent even their sponsors,the APC leaders, will deny knowing or having ever met them before,” reacted a victim of the political thuggery attacks.

NDC supporters resisted the attackers, confronting them and throwing chairs in an attempt to repel them before security operatives intervened.

Despite the disruption, the meeting eventually proceeded, with Obi, Senator Victor Umeh, Doherty, Lagos State Deputy Governorship Candidate Tolani Animashaun and activist Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senatorial Candidate Aisha Yesufu, among other party figures, in attendance.

Addressing participants after the incident, Obi clarified that the gathering was not a campaign rally but an opportunity for the party to engage Nigerians and listen to their concerns.

“Today is not our Lagos campaign. What we’re doing is a townhall meeting. Our townhall meeting is an opportunity to listen to people and their ideas,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor condemned the attack, insisting that political violence would not deter the party from pursuing its political ambitions.

He urged supporters of all political parties to embrace peace and fairness, stressing that Nigerians must be able to exercise their democratic rights without intimidation or fear.

Obi also assured Nigerians that their sacrifices for a better country would not be in vain, urging citizens not to lose hope in the nation’s future.

Outlining his policy priorities, he pledged to tackle insecurity, unemployment, poverty and infrastructure deficits if elected president in 2027.

He promised to increase electricity generation to 10,000 megawatts, make basic education compulsory and free, and establish functional primary healthcare centres in every ward across the country.

He further pledged to transform Nigeria from a consumption-driven economy into a production-based economy capable of generating employment, attracting investment and improving living standards.

On security, Obi promised reforms to strengthen the police, improve officers’ welfare and recruit more graduates into the force.

He also called for credible elections in 2027, urging Nigerians to remain at polling units until votes were counted and transmitted to promote transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.

The NDC presidential candidate also appealed to Lagos residents to support Doherty’s governorship ambition.

Obi’s Support Base Still Strong – Doherty

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday November 12, 2026, Doherty dismissed suggestions that Obi’s political appeal might have diminished following his defection from the Labour Party to the NDC.

He argued that Obi’s popularity was rooted in his political philosophy and personal appeal rather than the political platform on which he contested elections.

“The idea of a new party is not something that we should hang our hat on anymore in our clime. Parties may be new, but the individuals involved are not new.

“But the reception of Peter Obi today, that is how it is everywhere he goes. This is a man who is loved by the people. They view him as a different kind of politician, for good reason, and those of us who align with that philosophy and thinking,” Doherty said.

He cautioned those attempting to downplay Obi’s political influence against underestimating his electoral strength, describing such an assumption as a grave mistake.

“Anybody who is making a contrary case, time will tell. But I would advise them that if they are saying that just to downplay his significance, I think it will be a grave mistake on their part because his support base is still strong. I have seen it, not just today, we have seen it multiple times,” he added.

Doherty also cited the resistance by NDC supporters to the disruption of the town hall meeting as evidence that the enthusiasm which characterised Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign remained alive.

According to him, the attackers might have expected participants to flee when they invaded the venue but encountered supporters determined to defend their political participation.

“Those guys came in today probably thinking they would have an easy ride of it. They would come in and do what they might normally do, scatter things and people would run away. But people were not in that frame of mind.

“We have laboured for this, and you cannot deprive us of it. And I think that spirit is alive and strong. To those who might think that, following 2023, people have lost some of that energy, I think, if anything, today should let us know that it is game on,” he said.

Praising the supporters who resisted the attack, Doherty described them as heroes, saying their actions should serve as a message to politicians about the determination of ordinary Nigerians to defend their democratic rights.

Members of the NDC said the APC thugs to overpower them but they failed because they were never ever resisted the way they saw Thursday at Oregon. “It will continue this way because nobody, under any guide, can intimidate to prevent us from our free and safe participation in the politics of our country,” one of them vowed.

Stakeholders Condemn Political Violence

Meanwhile, public affairs advocate, Comrade Nelson Ekujimi, has condemned the use of violence in political activities, warning Nigerians against allowing themselves to be used as instruments of political intimidation.

Reacting to the Lagos incident and reports of violence around political gatherings in parts of the country, Ekujimi said such acts should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians.

“We do not encourage this act. Such acts must be condemned. We must follow the advice of people of good conscience who continually admonish Nigerians to remain peaceful,” he said.

He argued that political violence did not promote goodwill or peaceful coexistence but rather bred resentment and division in society.

“They should not allow themselves to become tools or instruments of violence. Violence is not good for any society. It does not promote goodwill or good feelings; rather, it creates bad blood. As everybody has said, we must not allow ourselves to be deceived, whether by the ruling party or supposedly opposing parties,” he added.

Ekujimi called on security agencies to investigate the incident and establish the circumstances surrounding the disruption, stressing that allegations must be properly examined before conclusions are drawn.

“I would expect the authorities responsible for maintaining law and order to allow the police to do what they need to do in accordance with the law,” he said.

Similarly, public affairs analyst, Ake Ayodeji, expressed concern that persistent attacks, intimidation and disruption of opposition activities could undermine democratic participation as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.

He noted that democracy thrives on political competition, freedom of association and the ability of political parties to mobilise supporters and communicate their policies without fear of violence.

According to him, the normalisation of political intolerance could discourage participation, weaken public confidence in electoral institutions and raise questions about the credibility of the electoral process.

Ayodeji, however, cautioned against assuming that violence against opposition groups would automatically translate into electoral advantage or disadvantage for any political party, noting that election outcomes depend on several factors, including voters’ choices, political organisation and confidence in the electoral process.

Obi’s 2023 Electoral Victory In Lagos

Obi contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party, finishing third nationally behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

However, he defeated Tinubu in Lagos State, polling 582,454 votes against the APC candidate’s 572,606.

The outcome was particularly significant given Tinubu’s longstanding political influence in Lagos, where the APC has governed for 27 years. Tinubu, a former governor of the state, had been regarded as a dominant political force.

Obi is now seeking the presidency on the platform of the NDC ahead of the 2027 general election, while Doherty is seeking to end the APC’s longstanding hold on the Lagos governorship.

The two NDC candidates have expressed confidence in the party’s prospects, with Doherty insisting that the ruling party’s dominance in Lagos is not insurmountable.

Meanwhile, efforts to obtain the reaction of the Lagos State Police Command to Thursday’s incident were unsuccessful, as its Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) did not respond to telephone calls as of the time of filing this report.

The circumstances surrounding the disruption and the identities of those responsible had yet to be independently established.

The incident has renewed concerns about the preparedness of security agencies to protect political parties, candidates and supporters exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and political participation.

With political activities expected to intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, stakeholders have called for a thorough investigation into reported attacks and stronger security measures to prevent intimidation and ensure that political disagreements are resolved through lawful and democratic means.