2027: Like Lagos, NDC campaign attacked in Kano

Barely days after a town hall meeting of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) was attacked in Lagos State, a similar incident occurred in Kano State on Sunday, involving the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and his campaign team in the Bichi Local Government Area.

In the incident, thugs attacked the convoy of Mr Kwankwaso and the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Aminu Abdussalam.

The spokesperson for the NDC governorship candidate, Ibrahim Shu’aibu, said the campaign team had earlier campaigned in Tofa, Rimingado, Kabo, Gwarzo, Shanono, and Bagwai local government areas without disruption.

Mr Shu’aibu said the team initially received reports that the road leading to Bichi had been barricaded by thugs.

Upon arriving in the town, he said the convoy was attacked by stone-throwing thugs before advancing past the local government secretariat, where more armed youths emerged and continued the attack.

Mr Shu’aibu alleged that several members of the campaign team sustained injuries and multiple vehicles in the entourage were vandalised, adding that he personally counted about seven smashed vehicles during the melee.

The Kano State Police Command could not be immediately reached for its reaction to the incident.

The Kano incident occurred just three days after hoodlums wielding cutlasses and cudgels stormed an NDC town hall meeting along Kudirat Abiola Way in Oregun, Ikeja.

The event was scheduled to be addressed by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Mr Kwankwaso, though neither had arrived at the venue when the violence broke out.

The NDC accused supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos of orchestrating the attack.

However, the APC Presidential Campaign Council, through its spokesperson Dele Alake, denied involvement, condemned the violence, and urged security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators.

Civil society groups, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), also called on President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to launch an impartial investigation into such attacks.