Unidentified hoodlums on Saturday violently disrupted a joint event organised by the Labour Party (LP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Alimosho area of Lagos State, throwing the gathering into chaos and leaving several party members injured.
The event, which was intended to publicly mark the defection of LP members in Alimosho to the ADC, was first held at the LP office in Idumu.
According to eyewitness accounts, more than 100 hoodlums stormed the venue, wielding knives, canes and other weapons, and assaulted party members and officials. The attackers reportedly shouted threats, declaring that the LP and ADC were not welcome in Lagos State, as attendees fled for safety.
Despite the violence, officials of both parties quickly relocated the programme to an alternative venue at the Eco Centre Event in Egbeda in a bid to salvage the ceremony.
However, the reprieve was short-lived, as the hoodlums allegedly tracked the gathering to the second location and again attacked members, inflicting injuries and forcing another disruption.
Recounting the ordeal, the LP chairman in Alimosho, Olaranwaju Olushola, popularly known as Heritage, described the attacks as unprovoked and deeply troubling. He warned that such incidents could threaten political freedom ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“What is most painful is that many of my members sustained varying degrees of wounds,” Olushola said. “The hoodlums even invaded our party secretariat in Alimosho, destroying furniture and party flags.”
He clarified that the defection of LP members to the ADC had already taken place collectively, stressing that Saturday’s event was merely a formal ceremony to inform the public, not the actual act of defection.
According to him, nearly all LP members and leaders in Alimosho had resolved, as a group, to move to the ADC.
Also speaking, the LP secretary in Alimosho, Moses Akujuobi, said the parties had earlier scaled down plans for an open ceremony after the police reportedly declined approval, citing the need for clearance from the Commissioner of Police.
Akujuobi said they had informed the Department of State Services (DSS) and proceeded, believing the gathering was a low-key event rather than a rally.
He explained that police vans with heavily armed officers were already present at the first venue when they arrived, and that the subsequent attacks by hoodlums forced them to disperse and relocate members to the second venue, which was also invaded.
Akujuobi added that internal leadership challenges and prolonged litigations within the LP informed their decision to defect to the ADC.
Police officers reportedly arrived at the second venue after the hoodlums had left.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted a police source, who spoke anonymously, saying officers responded upon receiving reports of the disturbance and were relieved that no lives were lost, despite the injuries sustained by party members.