There are increasing concerns over the rising cases of political thuggery and violence linked to campaigns for the 2027 general elections across several states.
ZINGTIE reports that since the commencement of campaigns on August 19, several incidents allegedly involving political thugs have been recorded in Kogi, Benue, Kano, Enugu, Kaduna, Delta, Rivers and other states.
In some cases, party leaders and supporters sustained injuries, heightening concerns about the safety of political actors and creating apprehension among citizens who may want to openly identify with their preferred candidates as the elections approach.
The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has also alleged attacks on its members and supporters, although a significant proportion of the reported incidents have involved members and supporters of opposition parties.
Most of the reported attacks were allegedly directed at members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC; African Democratic Congress, ADC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
On September 15, political thugs allegedly sponsored by the ruling APC disrupted an ADC meeting in Ejule, Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, forcing party members and supporters to flee the venue for safety.
Reports indicated that the incident happened during the meeting after the suspected attackers allegedly fired several shots into the air, causing panic among participants and residents.
At least one ADC member was seriously injured during the incident and was promptly taken to hospital for treatment.
The incident sparked renewed concerns about the security situation in Ofu LGA, which has a history of politically motivated violence, particularly during election periods.
ZINGTIE recalls that in 2019, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Women Leader in Kogi State, Salome Abuh, was reportedly burnt to death at her residence in the same LGA during the governorship election period.
On September 8, the motorcade of NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi was reportedly attacked by suspected thugs who blocked the road in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, preventing him from accessing the state during his humanitarian visit to Yelwata.
More than 10 supporters of the NDC candidate were reportedly injured and admitted to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, Makurdi, following the attack.
The opposition party accused government officials of sponsoring the suspected thugs, but the Benue State Government rejected the allegation.
Less than 24 hours after the incident, the Benue State Police Command paraded 46 suspects allegedly linked to the attack.
While parading the suspects, the Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, warned that the police in Benue State “will not allow any act of political intolerance” as the general election draws closer.
On September 5, some police officers and journalists covering an All Progressives Congress, APC, rally in Kano State were reportedly attacked by suspected political thugs.
The incident occurred behind the City Campus of North West University, Kofar Nassarawa, as the victims were returning to their office after the event.
The attackers allegedly smashed a Radio Nigeria vehicle conveying the journalists and damaged its rear glass, an incident captured in a video that later circulated online.
The APC had earlier organised the Tinubu Support Group rally at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, where some opposition chieftains were received before the attack occurred.
The incident came a week after a teenager, Yusuf Ahmad, was reportedly killed in a suspected reprisal attack by street thugs in the Konannen Gidan Mai area of Dorayi Quarters, Gwale Local Government Area of the state.
Yusuf was allegedly attacked while returning home from a Maulud gathering in Unguwar Bello, with the incident reportedly linked to an earlier confrontation involving another youth in a neighbouring community.
A few days ago, suspected thugs allegedly disrupted a campaign rally involving supporters of Nigerian Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Warri, Delta State.
Esther Umoh, identified as a photographer associated with Obi, brought the incident to public attention, alleging in a post on X that politically sponsored thugs had attacked members of the campaign team.
Umoh alleged that members of the entourage of the Delta State governorship candidate, alongside other supporters of the Obidient and Kwankwasiya movements, were targeted during the incident.
“As of this morning, politically sponsored thugs reportedly opened fire on @MamaPee__, @Drmopaul, @dchrisiyovwaye, the Delta State governorship candidate, members of his entourage, and other Obidient and Kwankwasiya supporters who were out campaigning in Warri,” she wrote.
A video circulated alongside the allegations also captured a chaotic scene, with a voice heard saying, “Look at the thugs, they came to attack us. We must face them. We are fully ready for them.”
Last week, members of the ADC who gathered to welcome the party’s governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Isa Mohammed Ashiru, after his return from a two-week Lesser Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, were reportedly attacked by political thugs.
Reports indicated that several vehicles belonging to ADC members and supporters were vandalised by suspected APC political thugs.
The opposition party alleged that the armed attackers were seen entering the Kaduna State Secretariat of the Renewed Hope Movement after the incident, raising further concerns about the safety of lives ahead of the January and February general elections.
Tension has continued to rise in parts of Rivers State, particularly in Ikwerre and Emohua Local Government Areas, following reported clashes involving supporters of the ADC, NDC and APC.
The ADC recently raised an alarm over an alleged attack on its members and a candidate during a consultation in Ikwerre.
A viral video from the incident showed some party members reportedly injured, with blood stains visible on their clothing.
Similarly, on September 9, suspected political thugs reportedly stormed the secretariat of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, in Emohua Local Government Area, destroying the party’s billboards, banners and other campaign materials.
Both the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, have reported attacks involving their members in different parts of Enugu State.
Some videos circulating online showed canopies and chairs arranged for rallies destroyed, while accompanying voices blamed the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Several people were reportedly injured by gunfire during one of the recent attacks on NDC members, with some victims still receiving treatment in hospitals as of the time of filing this report.
The succession of attacks has heightened concerns nationwide about the possible level of violence that could occur before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.
Speaking with ZINGTIE, security expert Mr Donatus Igi called on security agencies to urgently address the trend ahead of the election, warning that political thuggery could threaten the peaceful conduct of the polls.
He referenced the alleged killing of party members and supporters during preparations for the Osun State governorship election, where more than 40 people were reportedly killed by thugs.
According to Igi, “Political violence has always been a part of our elections, but I think we are having the worst of it these days. The campaign has not even started properly, and many people are being attacked already. This is not democracy.
“Unfortunately, some of our security agencies are compromised. Look at what happened in Osun State recently. Several innocent people were killed, and the police and other agencies were just watching. On different occasions, the governor cried out that the police were biased, but many took it to be a joke. We saw what happened at the end.
“If they don’t stop this nonsense before 2027, there is going to be a serious problem. Election should not be a do-or-die affair.
“All candidates should stop making provocative utterances that can trigger unrest. You can’t say you want to win an election to bring development and you are here encouraging people to take the lives of the people you want to protect.
“When a candidate makes any speech that is capable of causing problems, the DSS should invite or pick him or her. When you do it to one or two people, others will learn.
“And it is very unfortunate that the youths who are the major recipients of bad governance are the ones being used as thugs. Don’t they think? The person who is giving you N5,000 to go and attack another person, where are his children? Why can’t he send his own children?
“We all have a role to play in this. While the security agencies are doing their job, the parents should also talk to their children to stay away from violence.”
On his part, Nigerian businessman Isaac Fayose urged supporters of opposition parties to continue resisting attacks and remain united against what he described as oppression.
“If we can all come out to say enough is enough, they will stop. Delta people did it. We are going to Benue, Kaduna and other places, and we expect them to emulate the Delta people by resisting the attackers.
“The only way to get our country back is to face these people. Obidients in Delta have established that the state belongs to NDC. Next time, the thugs will be careful,” he said.
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