There are growing concerns over the emerging trend of political thuggery and violence surrounding the 2027 general election campaigns across several states in Nigeria. Since the campaigns commenced on August 19, several attacks linked to political thugs have been recorded in Kogi, Benue, Kano, Enugu, Kaduna, Delta, Rivers, and other states. These incidents have resulted in injuries to party leaders and supporters, raising concerns about the safety of political actors and creating fear among citizens who may wish to openly support their preferred candidates as the elections draw closer.
The majority of the attacks were allegedly targeted 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 All Progressives Congress, APC, disrupted a meeting organised by the ADC in Ejule, Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, sending party members and supporters fleeing for safety. According to reports, the incident occurred during the meeting when the suspected attackers allegedly fired several shots into the air, sparking panic among the participants and residents of the area.
In Benue State, the motorcade of the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, came under attack by suspected thugs who reportedly blocked the road in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, preventing him from gaining access to the state during his humanitarian outreach to Yelwata. More than 10 supporters of the NDC candidate sustained injuries and were hospitalised at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, Makurdi, following the incident. The opposition party accused government officials of sponsoring the thugs, but the Benue State Government denied the allegation.
In Kano State, some police officers and journalists covering an APC rally were gruesomely attacked by suspected political thugs behind the City Campus of North West University, Kofar Nassarawa. The attackers reportedly smashed a Radio Nigeria official vehicle conveying the journalists and damaged its rear glass, as captured in a viral video. This incident occurred a week after a teenager, Yusuf Ahmad, was gruesomely 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.
In Delta State, suspected thugs allegedly disrupted a campaign rally involving supporters of the Nigerian Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Warri. A photographer associated with Obi, Esther Umoh, alleged in a post on X that politically sponsored thugs had attacked members of the campaign group, targeting members of the entourage of the Delta State governorship candidate, as well as other supporters of the Obidient and Kwankwasiya movements who were campaigning in the area.
In Kaduna State, members of the ADC who turned out to receive the party’s governorship candidate, Isa Mohammed Ashiru, following his return from a two-week Lesser Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, were attacked by political thugs. Several vehicles belonging to ADC members and supporters were vandalised by suspected APC political thugs. The opposition party alleged that after carrying out the attack, the armed thugs were seen entering the Kaduna State Secretariat of the Renewed Hope Movement, raising fresh concerns over the safety of lives during the January and February general elections.
There has been rising tension in parts of Rivers State, particularly in Ikwerre and Emohua Local Government Areas, following reported clashes between ADC, NDC, and APC supporters. Both the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, have reported attacks on their members in different parts of Enugu State. These incidents have raised concerns over the security situation in the country as the 2027 general elections approach.
Key points
- - Several attacks linked to political thugs have been recorded in multiple states across Nigeria since the 2027 general election campaigns commenced on August 19. - The majority of the attacks were allegedly targeted at members of opposition parties, including the NDC, ADC, and PDP. - The incidents have resulted in injuries to party leaders and supporters, raising concerns about the safety of political actors and creating fear among citizens.
