Political violence erupted in Lagos on Thursday, November 12, 2026, after suspected thugs invaded a town hall meeting organised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), sending participants fleeing before some supporters confronted the attackers.
The incident occurred at Classic Event Place in Oregun, where party supporters had gathered ahead of the scheduled appearance of the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
According to reports, the attackers arrived armed with cutlasses, cudgels and stones, triggering panic as participants scrambled for safety. The invasion disrupted the event and brought proceedings to an abrupt halt.
However, some NDC supporters resisted the attackers, throwing chairs and other objects to force them out of the hall. The confrontation later escalated as supporters, identifiable by their blue shirts and white fez caps, pursued the fleeing suspects and apprehended one of them in the car park.
A video circulating online reportedly showed young men surrounding the apprehended suspect and repeatedly hitting him with sticks, while a voice in the background urged them to “deal with him.”
The violence subsequently spilled onto Kudirat Abiola Way, a major road in the area, disrupting traffic and forcing motorists to make U-turns or seek alternative routes. Pedestrians also fled the scene as the confrontation drew more people into the street.
Policemen were later deployed to the area, where they reportedly fired shots into the air in an attempt to disperse the crowd and restore order.
The town hall meeting was reportedly put on hold as supporters remained outside the venue amid fears of further attacks.
The identities of the attackers, their possible sponsors and the circumstances leading to the invasion had not been independently established as of the time of filing this report.
The NDC’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, also raised the alarm over the attack, alleging that the party’s members were deliberately targeted.
In a post on social media, he questioned why anyone would seek to disrupt a town hall meeting organised for the party’s presidential candidate.
Neither Obi nor Kwankwaso had arrived at the venue when the violence erupted.
The incident raises fresh concerns about the safety of opposition political gatherings and the ability of political parties to conduct peaceful mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election.
It also places renewed attention on the responsibility of security agencies to protect political meetings, investigate attacks and bring perpetrators and their sponsors to justice.
The police had yet to issue an official account of the incident, including whether arrests had been made or casualties recorded.
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