A town hall meeting organised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Oregun, Lagos State, was thrown into chaos on Thursday after suspected hoodlums invaded the venue, forcing participants to run for safety.
A video published by TheCable showed individuals carrying sticks and other objects as they entered the hall and disrupted the gathering.
The footage captured attendees struggling to escape through the entrance, with chairs and other furniture scattered across the venue. Some participants were seen holding blue flags bearing the party’s colours as the violence intensified.
The disturbance later extended to the adjoining compound, where people ran in different directions around parked vehicles, including a white minibus.
Several individuals carrying sticks were also seen pursuing others as attendees scattered along nearby roads.
The identities of those behind the attack and their political affiliations had yet to be confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
The incident adds to a series of reported attacks and disruptions targeting political activities associated with the NDC and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
On November 4, Obi’s convoy came under attack near Watt Market in Calabar, Cross River State, while he was travelling to attend the party’s presidential town hall meeting.
PUNCH Online reported that suspected political thugs ambushed the convoy, pelting vehicles and supporters with stones, bottles and other dangerous objects. One person was subsequently arrested in connection with the incident.
Addressing participants at the town hall meeting after the attack, Obi said his security personnel had advised him to change his route after the attackers allegedly brought out machetes.
He said, “They were throwing stones, and I saw people running back. And my security people said we should find another way because they have machetes and other things.”
Earlier, on September 18, suspected hoodlums reportedly disrupted a rally involving supporters of Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Warri, Delta State.
Obi’s media aide, Esther Umoh, alleged in a post on X that politically sponsored attackers assaulted members of the campaign organisation, including members of the entourage of the NDC governorship candidate in the state.
Another incident occurred on September 12 when armed men reportedly stormed an NDC ward meeting in Obuoffia, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, firing gunshots and injuring some participants.
Following the incident, the Enugu State Police Command ordered an investigation into the attack and a separate disruption of a Peoples Democratic Party rally in Agbani.
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The command’s spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, said the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, had instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to “thoroughly investigate” both incidents and ensure the perpetrators were brought to justice.
The NDC subsequently released the names of eight people who were affected by the attack. Police investigations later resulted in the arrest of traditional ruler Obiora Igwesi, a former lawmaker and other individuals over their alleged involvement in the violence.
However, the police also charged a man, Ani Samuel Chidi, who recorded and shared footage of the Enugu attack, with allegedly publishing a false statement accusing another person of participating in the incident.
The decision attracted criticism from the Enugu State chapter of the NDC, which accused the police of targeting someone who had recorded evidence of the violence rather than focusing on the attackers.
Similarly, Obi’s planned visit to Yelwata in Benue State on September 8 was disrupted after youths blocked his convoy.
The former Anambra State governor had intended to visit families of victims of the June 2025 massacre in the community. He accused suspected hired thugs of preventing him from completing the visit, which he described as a humanitarian mission.
The Benue State Government denied any involvement in the incident. The police, however, confirmed that officers had provided security for the movement and announced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the blockade.