President Bola Tinubu has told security agencies to deal firmly with anyone who uses violence during the campaigns for the 2027 general elections, authorising them to tackle political thuggery “with full force”. The order, contained in a statement the President issued on Friday, came one day after suspected thugs armed with cutlasses, sticks and stones invaded a Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) town hall meeting in the Oregun area of Lagos.
The statement is the strongest intervention yet from the Presidency as campaign season heats up, and it follows a string of attacks on party events in several states over the past two months.
What happened in Oregun
According to TheCable and the Nigerian Tribune, both of which had correspondents near the venue, the attackers arrived at about 11am on Thursday, November 12, approaching from Kudirat Abiola Way. NDC supporters had gathered at the Classique Event Centre to await the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who were due to address a town hall.
Reporters said the group first tried to force its way into the main hall, was pushed back by party supporters, and then turned on people and vehicles outside. BusinessDay reported that motorists on the busy road made U-turns to escape the confrontation. Neither Obi nor Kwankwaso had arrived when the violence broke out.
The Lagos chapter of the NDC claimed that around 200 attackers took part, that four of its members were injured and that several cars were damaged. The party also alleged that police and DSS personnel at the scene did not step in quickly. Those claims have not been independently confirmed. Lagos police said they had received a distress call, restored calm and opened an investigation.
Blame and denials
NDC national officials accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of being behind attacks on its members in Lagos and Delta states. The Lagos APC rejected the allegation. Its publicity secretary, Seye Oladejo, said party leaders were at an event in Epe at the time and challenged the NDC to hand any evidence to the security agencies. The APC’s presidential campaign council also publicly condemned the disruption of the NDC meeting.
When Obi eventually addressed supporters, he condemned the attack and said the party would not be scared off campaigning in Lagos, according to local reports. In the 2023 presidential election, Obi, then of the Labour Party, won the most votes in Lagos State.
What Tinubu said
In Friday’s statement, reported by P.M. News and Peoples Gazette, the President said “Every form of violence stands condemned” and urged candidates to fight the election on ideas and policies rather than through intimidation.
He repeated an earlier instruction to the police and other agencies to be strict with anyone trying to disrupt public order, and said parties and candidates must be free to campaign anywhere in the country without fear for their safety. According to the Nigerian Tribune, he also directed security agencies to arrest not only those who carry out attacks but also those who sponsor them.
Appealing for tolerance, Tinubu said belonging to different parties does not make politicians enemies, describing Nigerians as “members of the same household living in different rooms”.
A worrying pattern before 2027
The Oregun incident is not isolated. Earlier this month, on November 4, Obi’s convoy was attacked near Watt Market in Calabar, Cross River State, as he headed to an NDC town hall, according to several Nigerian outlets. There have also been reports of violence at rallies and processions involving other parties, including the APC, in states such as Enugu, Katsina, Nasarawa and Delta.
The presidential race is already crowded. Tinubu is seeking a second term on the APC ticket, while Obi (NDC), former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar (ADC) and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde (APM) are among his main challengers. Opposition candidates have increasingly accused the government of failing to protect citizens, and the clashes are feeding a wider debate about whether the 2027 polls can be held peacefully.
What happens next
Attention now turns to whether the police make arrests and prosecute anyone over the Lagos attack. Civil society groups and opposition parties are likely to test the President’s words against what happens at the next big rallies.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is also preparing a nationwide mock presidential election for November 28 to test its accreditation and result-transmission technology, an exercise that will itself require security cover across the country. How security agencies handle the coming weeks of campaigning could shape public confidence in the entire electoral process.
Sources: P.M. News, Peoples Gazette, Nigerian Tribune, TheCable, BusinessDay, Politics Nigeria.
