The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has denounced the attack on a Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) town hall meeting in Lagos, demanding swift arrest and prosecution of those fuelling violence against political gatherings.
The council also urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to exercise restraint, warning against actions capable of triggering violence and public disorder.
Its spokesperson, Dele Alake, made the call in a statement on Thursday while condemning reported attacks in Edo, Cross River and Gombe states, as well as other incidents involving political supporters and leaders across party lines.
The council specifically condemned the disruption of the NDC’s scheduled town hall meeting in Lagos, where suspected political thugs attacked party members and supporters in the Oregun area of Ikeja.
The incident occurred around 11:00 a.m. at the Classique Event Centre along Kudirat Abiola Way, where preparations were underway for a town hall meeting involving the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Neither Obi nor Kwankwaso had arrived at the venue when the attackers struck, according to witnesses. The incident sent attendees fleeing for safety and caused panic in the surrounding area, with motorists making abrupt U-turns to avoid the disturbance.
Vehicles belonging to NDC members and supporters were vandalised, while shattered glass littered the venue. A supporter who sustained a head injury told Channels Television that hoodlums armed with cutlasses invaded the area in an attempt to disrupt the gathering.
The supporter also said additional NDC members were mobilised to resist the attackers, who eventually retreated.
The APC campaign council described the reported attacks on political gatherings as unacceptable and called on security agencies to strengthen efforts to prevent violence.
It urged the agencies to ensure that those who instigated or carried out the attacks were apprehended and punished in accordance with the law.
The council also appealed to political parties and candidates to focus their campaigns on issues that would improve the lives of Nigerians rather than encourage violence at political events.
