AfriPulse
Unidentified hoodlums on Saturday disrupted a joint event organised by the Labour Party (LP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The gathering was convened to formally announce the defection of LP members in Alimosho to the ADC.
More than 100 hoodlums invaded the first venue of the event at the LP office in Idumu, forcing party members and officials to flee for safety.
The assailants, who were seen wielding various weapons such as knives and canes, assaulted individuals they encountered during the chaos.
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Some of the hoodlums were heard shouting that LP–ADC were not welcome in Lagos State.
Several party members sustained varying degrees of injuries in the attack.
Despite the disruption, officials of both parties quickly secured an alternative venue at the Eco Centre Event in Egbeda to continue the programme.
Recounting the incident, the LP Chairman in Alimosho, Mr Olaranwaju Olushola, popularly known as Heritage in Lagos, described the attack on party members as unwarranted.
He expressed concern that many Nigerians might be unable to freely express themselves ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
‘What is most painful is that most of my members sustained varying degrees of wound. This is in spite of the hoodlums going into our party secretariat in Alimosho, destroying our furniture and flags.”
The chairman explained that the members had already defected en masse, noting that the event was not the official defection but a ceremony meant to inform Nigerians of their decision.
He added that nearly all LP members in Alimosho, including the leadership, had collectively resolved to join the ADC.
Also speaking, the party’s Secretary in Alimosho, Mr Moses Akujuobi, alongside other members, said plans for an open defection ceremony had earlier been halted by the police on the grounds that approval had not been obtained.
He said they had contacted the Area M Commander, ACP Abaniwonda, who informed them that she did not have the authority to approve political events in the state, noting that such approval could only be granted by the Commissioner of Police (CP).
“Incidentally, we could not reach the CP but we informed the DSS after which we went ahead since it wasn’t a rally but a quiet ceremony.
” When we got to the venue this morning, we were shocked to see police vans with heavily armed police men. They informed us that we cannot hold the event and referred us to the police commissioner.
“While we were at it, the hoodlums, beseeched the place and began to beat people, leading to our deserting the venue.
” We, however, began to contact our members through phones to move to the second venue , which is the Eco Event centre and everyone witnessed what took place here.
” The hoodlums got wind of our second venue and equally attacked us, beating up our members again.”
Akujuobi said the decision to defect to the ADC was driven by leadership challenges within the LP and ongoing litigations.
The heavily armed policemen later arrived at the second venue in vans, shortly after the hoodlums—who had come in several vehicles—left the area.
A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the officers responded after receiving information about the incident at the Eco Event Centre.
The officer said discussions with people at the venue provided insight into what had occurred, adding that the police were relieved that no life was lost and no one was seriously injured.
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