Opposition Parties Demand Action Against Campaign Attacks

Opposition political parties in Nigeria are increasingly alarmed by a series of attacks on their candidates and campaign trails as the 2027 elections approach, with the Presidential and National Assembly polls scheduled for January 16. The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was recently prevented from visiting Yelwata in Benue State by armed miscreants, which led to his convoy aborting the trip.

The APC-led state government attributed this incident to security risks and Obi's failure to notify Governor Hyacinth Alia of his visit. Additionally, on the following day, the campaign trail of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna State was disrupted by suspected thugs, prompting police intervention.

The Labour Party has called for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to engage with APC governors to address these intimidation tactics, warning that unchecked actions could undermine the credibility of the upcoming elections. The situation has raised concerns among various opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied People’s Movement (APM).