Strapline: Funso Doherty says the disruption of an NDC town hall has not weakened supporters’ resolve, while the APC’s presidential campaign council calls for arrests and prosecution. The attackers’ identities and any political links have not been established in the information available.
By Anita Babalola
LAGOS — Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Lagos governorship candidate Funso Doherty says Peter Obi retains a strong support base in Lagos and could again defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, despite moving from the Labour Party to the NDC ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking on Thursday, Doherty argued that Obi’s appeal rests on his political outlook rather than the party platform under which he contests. His remarks followed an attack on an NDC town hall meeting in Oregun, Ikeja, where suspected assailants reportedly vandalised property and vehicles.
The attack disrupted preparations for the gathering and left at least one supporter injured, according to accounts provided to journalists. The available reports do not identify those responsible or establish who, if anyone, organised the attack.
Doherty says Obi’s appeal extends beyond party platform
Doherty rejected suggestions that Obi’s move from the Labour Party to the NDC could erode his support.
“The idea of a new party is not something that we should hang our hat on anymore in our clime,” he said, adding that voters were responding to Obi as a politician and to the ideas he represents.
He warned that political opponents who dismiss Obi’s support base could misjudge the strength of his following.
“If they are saying that just to downplay his significance, I think it will be a grave mistake on their part,” Doherty said. He added that he had seen evidence of continued public support for Obi on multiple occasions.
Doherty also pointed to the response of NDC supporters during the disruption as evidence, in his view, that the enthusiasm associated with Obi’s 2023 campaign had not disappeared.
Attack disrupted town hall preparations
Suspected political thugs reportedly entered the event venue in Oregun before Obi and other senior party figures arrived. Witnesses said the assailants were armed with cutlasses, cudgels and stones.
Vehicles belonging to NDC members and supporters were damaged, and broken glass was reported at the scene. A supporter who spoke to reporters said he sustained a head injury during the incident.
The confrontation caused attendees to flee and disrupted activity at the venue. NDC supporters resisted the attackers, reportedly throwing chairs as they tried to drive them away. Security operatives later intervened, and the assailants retreated, according to the accounts cited in the reports.
The town hall meeting eventually went ahead, with Obi, senator Victor Umeh, activist Aisha Yesufu and other party figures attending.
Doherty condemned the incident as “unprovoked” and “unnecessary.” He praised supporters who resisted the attack, describing them as heroes and saying their response should be taken as a warning that ordinary Nigerians would defend their rights.
APC council calls for arrests
The APC Presidential Campaign Council also condemned reported attacks on political gatherings, including the disruption of the NDC meeting in Lagos.
In a statement on Thursday, council spokesperson Dele Alake urged security agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible. The council called the attacks unacceptable and appealed to political parties, candidates and supporters to avoid conduct that could provoke violence or public disorder.
Alake’s statement also referred to reported incidents in Edo, Cross River and Gombe states. It urged political actors to focus their campaigns on policies and issues affecting Nigerians rather than violence at political events.
The statement did not name suspects in the Lagos incident. No arrests or charges were detailed in the information provided for this report.
2023 result remains central to Lagos contest
Obi contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party and finished third nationally, behind APC candidate Bola Tinubu and Peoples Democratic Party candidate Atiku Abubakar. In Lagos State, however, Obi won 582,454 votes, narrowly ahead of Tinubu’s 572,606.
The result was significant in a state where the APC has held power for decades and where Tinubu, a former governor, has had substantial political influence. Obi is now seeking the presidency under the NDC, while Doherty says the opposition can challenge the ruling party’s dominance in Lagos.
Whether that support will translate into votes in 2027 remains uncertain. The reported attack adds a security concern to the emerging political contest, but the available accounts do not establish the attackers’ identities, motive or political affiliations.
Doherty has framed the response to the Oregun attack as evidence that Obi’s supporters remain politically engaged. The immediate questions, however, are also about accountability: who carried out the assault, whether it was organised, and whether security agencies will identify and prosecute those responsible. The APC council has called for action, but no arrests were reported in the material reviewed for this story.
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