2027: Lagos APC denies sponsoring assault on Peter Obi’s NDC city corridor assembly

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has dismissed allegations that it sponsored the assault on a city corridor assembly organised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, within the Oregun space of the state.

The ruling celebration described the accusation as unfounded, alleging that the opposition celebration was making an attempt accountable it for the incident with out offering credible proof of its involvement.

The denial adopted an assault on NDC supporters on Thursday, when suspected hoodlums armed with cutlasses, cudgels and stones stormed the venue of the celebration’s city corridor assembly, disrupted the gathering and despatched contributors fleeing.

The assault occurred shortly earlier than the scheduled arrival of the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his working mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on the assembly.

However, reacting to the event in an announcement on Thursday, the Lagos APC spokesman, Seye Oladejo, questioned the allegation, mentioning that the incident occurred on the identical day the ruling celebration formally launched its 2027 marketing campaign in Epe, a number of kilometres away from Oregun.

According to him, the celebration had mobilised its leaders, elected representatives, executives, marketing campaign officers and different stakeholders to attend the marketing campaign flag-off in Epe.

He argued that it was unreasonable to recommend that the APC would abandon its personal political engagement to intervene with an opposition celebration’s gathering.

Oladejo stated, “We consider this allegation not only reckless, baseless and irresponsible but also a desperate attempt to drag Lagos APC into an incident for which the accusers have presented no credible evidence linking the ruling party.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Lagos APC categorically rejects any insinuation of involvement, direct or indirect, in the alleged disruption of the said political gathering. We have neither sponsored, encouraged nor participated in any act capable of undermining the constitutional rights of any political party or group to assemble, deliberate and canvass for political support.”

The APC spokesman challenged the NDC to submit any proof able to establishing a hyperlink between the attackers and the ruling celebration to the suitable safety authorities as a substitute of constructing allegations by means of social media and public statements.

He additionally urged the Lagos State Police Command, the Department of State Services, DSS, and different safety companies to research the incident and strengthen safety measures towards political violence forward of the 2027 common elections.

Oladejo additional referred to as on safety companies to concentrate to what he described as more and more aggressive rhetoric from some opposition figures, warning that political ambitions mustn’t justify acts of lawlessness.

He maintained that the APC remained dedicated to peaceable political actions, issue-based campaigns and democratic competitors.

The spokesman additionally urged the NDC to cease trying to find scapegoats and settle for accountability for sustaining order inside its political setting.

Meanwhile, Obi and the Lagos State NDC governorship candidate, Funsho Doherty, later arrived on the venue of the city corridor assembly regardless of the disruption.