A joint program organised by the Labour Party (LP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Alimosho, Lagos State, was disrupted on Saturday by unidentified hoodlums.
The event was convened to formally announce the defection of LP members in Alimosho to the ADC. However, more than 100 hoodlums reportedly stormed the first venue at the LP office in Idimu, forcing party members and officials to flee for safety.
Witnesses said the attackers, armed with knives, canes, and other weapons, assaulted attendees indiscriminately and chanted that the LP and ADC were not welcome in Lagos State. Several party members sustained injuries during the attack.
Despite the disruption, officials of both parties quickly arranged an alternative venue at the Eco Event Centre in Egbeda. However, the hoodlums reportedly traced the gathering to the new location and carried out another attack, beating members once again.
Recounting the incident, the LP chairman in Alimosho, Olaranwaju Olushola, popularly known as Heritage, described the attack as unprovoked and expressed concern that Nigerians may not be free to express themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“What is most painful is that most of my members sustained varying degrees of wounds. This is despite the hoodlums going into our party secretariat in Alimosho and destroying our furniture and flags,” Olushola said.
He clarified that LP members in the area had already defected en masse to the ADC, adding that the planned gathering was merely a ceremonial announcement of their decision.
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Also speaking, the party’s secretary in Alimosho, Moses Akujuobi, said police had earlier stopped plans for an open defection ceremony, citing lack of approval. He explained that they had contacted the Area M Commander, ACP Abaniwonda, who told them that only the Commissioner of Police could authorise political events in Lagos State.
Akujuobi said attempts to reach the Commissioner of Police were unsuccessful, but the Department of State Services (DSS) was informed before the organisers proceeded, as the event was intended to be a quiet ceremony rather than a rally.
According to him, police officers were already present at the venue when the hoodlums arrived and began attacking participants, forcing them to abandon the location.
“We contacted our members by phone to move to the second venue, the Eco Event Centre. Unfortunately, the hoodlums got wind of the new location and attacked us again, beating our members,” Akujuobi said.
He added that leadership issues and ongoing litigations within the LP informed their decision to join the ADC.
Shortly after the hoodlums left the second venue, heavily armed police officers arrived in patrol vans. A police officer who spoke anonymously said they responded after receiving reports of the disturbance and were relieved that no lives were lost and no serious injuries were recorded.
Credit: Peoplesgazatte
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