The governorship candidate of the Action Peoples Movement, APM, in Lagos State, Prince Laja Adeoye, has condemned the attack on supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) during their town hall meeting in Lagos, describing it as shameful and a threat to democracy.
Adeoye said the disruption of the meeting at the Classique Event Centre, Oregun, Ikeja, on Thursday, was an assault on the constitutional right of citizens to assemble and freely express their political views.
He said no political party or group had the monopoly of violence, warning that the use of thugs to disrupt opposition gatherings would only heighten tension ahead of the 2027 general election.
Adeoye said: “Nobody should be attacked for supporting a candidate of his or her choice. What happened in Lagos on Thursday was shameful and unacceptable in a democracy.”
According to him, the incident was particularly disturbing because Lagos had always prided itself as a centre of political tolerance, where different parties and candidates campaigned freely without fear of molestation.
The APM candidate said the attack was not just an attack on the NDC, but an attack on the democratic process and on every Nigerian who believed in free and fair elections.
He urgedthe Lagos State Police Command to immediately identify, arrest and prosecute those behind the attack, irrespective of their political affiliation or status.
According to him, failure to punish the perpetrators would embolden others to carry out similar attacks in other parts of the country as electioneering gathers momentum.
He said the attack also raised serious questions about the safety of voters, candidates and journalists during the campaign period, recalling that a journalist covering the event was also reportedly attacked and dispossessed of his working tools.
Adeoye said political leaders must rise above partisanship and condemn violence in all its forms, adding that democracy could not thrive in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.
He commended the NDC supporters for remaining peaceful in spite of the provocation, saying their conduct showed maturity and commitment to democratic ideals.
“The supporters did not retaliate. They conducted themselves in a peaceful manner. That is the spirit we need to sustain our democracy,” he said.
Adeoye urged political parties to caution their supporters against violence and to engage in issue-based campaigns rather than resort to thuggery and intimidation.
He said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and political stakeholders must work together to ensure a level playing field for all parties ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to him, Lagos, as the commercial nerve centre of the country, must set the pace for peaceful campaigns and show the rest of the country that elections could be won without violence.
He also called on the National Peace Committee and civil society organisations to intervene and prevail on political actors to embrace peace.
Adeoye said Nigerians were more interested in solutions to insecurity, unemployment, rising cost of living and poor infrastructure than in violence and political rascality.
He expressed sympathy with those injured during the attack and wished them a speedy recovery, while urging the NDC to remain focused on its campaign.
“We must not allow a few disgruntled elements to derail our democracy. The 2027 election must be about ideas, not violence,” Adeoye said.
He reiterated the commitment of the APM to peaceful, credible and transparent elections, adding that the party would continue to advocate for respect for the rule of law and democratic values.
[Vanguard]
