By Our Reporter

Suspected political thugs on Thursday invaded a town hall meeting organised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) at Classic Event Place, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, attacking supporters of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and disrupting the gathering.

The attackers, armed with cutlasses, cudgels and stones, reportedly stormed the venue, forcing participants to flee for safety. Some supporters, however, regrouped and resisted the attackers, eventually chasing them out of the hall. One of the suspected assailants was reportedly apprehended at the venue’s car park.

The confrontation spilled onto Kudirat Abiola Way, where police officers fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd and restore order. The incident reportedly left some participants injured, although the number of casualties had not been independently established as of the time of filing this report.

The meeting was part of the NDC’s political mobilisation in Lagos ahead of the 2027 general election, with Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, expected to engage supporters and stakeholders. The party’s Lagos governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, is also part of its political campaign. However, it remained unclear whether the meeting eventually resumed after the disruption.

The attack comes amid growing concerns over political violence as parties intensify mobilisation ahead of the elections. It also follows a recent attack on Obi’s convoy in Calabar, Cross River State, where police subsequently arrested a suspect. The latest incident raises fresh questions about the safety of opposition political gatherings and the responsibility of security agencies to protect citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly.