Armed men carrying axes, clubs and machetes attacked an opposition rally in Lagos, Nigeria, on Thursday, targeting supporters of Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Peter Obi and journalists covering the event two months before the January 16, 2027, presidential election. Videos on social media showed the mid-morning attack at an event center, where entrances and glass walls were shattered before NDC supporters repelled the assailants. Victims blamed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which rejected the allegation.
Key Takeaways: The Lagos rally for Peter Obi was disrupted by armed men, and journalists including TheCable’s Sam Adebanjo were attacked and robbed of equipment. Obi’s NDC blamed the ruling APC, whose spokesman Felix Morka denied responsibility and cited a lack of evidence. The NDC also says several campaign events were cancelled under government pressure, a claim President Bola Tinubu’s administration denies.
Election-related violence is a recurring feature in Nigeria, often carried out by groups colloquially described as “thugs.” Africa’s most populous and oil-rich country ranked 112th out of 180 in the Reporters Without Borders 2026 World Press Freedom Index, highlighting concerns about journalist safety. Thursday’s attack renewed attention to pressure on opposition parties ahead of a closely contested presidential vote.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers “came into the hall, [and] broke all the entrance doors and the glass walls.” “The NDC guys repelled them, chased them out of the hall into the road,” one witness added. Street battles lasted more than an hour before police arrived and fired tear gas. Security officials said they had not been present because they had not been notified of the event. TheCable journalist Sam Adebanjo said he was hit with an axe, punched and kicked before his equipment was taken. “I tried to resist, so they started attacking me,” he said. “I eventually yielded and surrendered the devices when one of them kept shouting, ‘Leave the camera — do you want them to kill you?’”
The January election will pit President Bola Tinubu, seeking a second term, against Obi, who placed third in 2023, and Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 runner-up. Abubakar faces legal challenges to his candidacy and accuses Tinubu’s government of lawfare, a charge the APC denies. The disputes over rally violence, cancelled events and legal battles are likely to shape the contest’s credibility.
The coming weeks will test whether Nigerian authorities can ensure a safer campaign and protect journalists. The NDC’s venue-pressure allegations and the APC’s denials are likely to remain central, while media watchdogs monitor the police response. No arrests were announced immediately after the Lagos attack, and the incident is expected to intensify scrutiny of political violence before the vote.
Source: www.dw.com