Supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, sang Nigeria’s former national anthem, “Arise O Compatriots,” instead of the current anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” during a town hall meeting in Lagos on Thursday, November 12, 2026, following a violent attack on the venue by suspected political thugs.
The incident occurred after the gathering, initially scheduled to begin in the morning, was disrupted by armed individuals who reportedly invaded the venue, attacked participants and damaged vehicles and other property.
The violence forced organisers to postpone the commencement of the programme until approximately 6 p.m., several hours behind schedule.
When the event eventually began, supporters of the NDC opted to sing “Arise O Compatriots,” the national anthem that was replaced in May 2024.
The development prompted the programme’s anchor to switch to the former anthem, which attendees recited while Obi cheered them on.
The decision to sing the former anthem came amid expressions of anger over the earlier disruption of the meeting, which opposition supporters blamed on individuals allegedly associated with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the political affiliation of those responsible for the attack has not been independently established.
President Bola Tinubu had, on May 29, 2024, signed into law a bill restoring “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the country’s national anthem, following its passage by the National Assembly.
The decision replaced “Arise O Compatriots,” which had served as Nigeria’s national anthem before the legislative change.
At the Lagos gathering, however, supporters chose to sing the replaced anthem, an action that followed the violence that had disrupted preparations for the town hall meeting.
Before Obi’s arrival, suspected political thugs reportedly stormed the venue while organisers and participants were making arrangements for the event.
The attackers allegedly descended on people at the scene, triggering confusion as participants attempted to escape or defend themselves.
Supporters of the party reportedly resisted the attackers, eventually forcing them to retreat from the venue.
The aftermath of the incident included damaged vehicles, broken bottles and what was described as spent bullets scattered around the premises.
Several persons reportedly sustained injuries during the confrontation.
One of those injured, Olamilekan Olayiwola, identified as the Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ward F, Ifako-Ijaiye, narrated how the attack unfolded.
Olayiwola, who sustained an injury to his hand and had bloodstains on his clothing, alleged that the attack was deliberately organised to disrupt the political gathering.
According to him, participants were relaxing and discussing while preparations were underway when he noticed suspicious activities outside the venue.
He explained that his experience as a security personnel prompted him to pay attention to a group of people gathered around commercial buses parked nearby.
“I am a security personnel. I went out and I saw, in the front there, there were like five yellow commercial buses parked outside. People inside were smoking and playing and they were saying they were going to destroy them,” he alleged.
Olayiwola said he immediately returned to alert his local government party chairman about the possible danger.
According to him, the chairman began contacting the police, but before security assistance could arrive, a large group of suspected attackers approached the venue.
He estimated the number of assailants at approximately 50, alleging that they were armed with firearms and other dangerous weapons.
“Before we looked up, we just saw these people marching in masses. To me, I didn’t lie. There were almost 50. They held guns. They put the guns inside super sacks, with cutlasses, axes,” he said.
Olayiwola explained that the situation quickly became chaotic as participants attempted to protect themselves and others inside the venue.
He said particular concern was given to the safety of women and other persons who could be exposed to the attack.
According to him, the attackers initially forced participants to retreat towards the end of the road, but the supporters eventually regrouped and pushed them away from the premises.
“In our midst, like, we first of all make a safeguard. Safeguard the people who are here,” he stated.
He explained that participants feared the attackers would completely destroy the venue if they were allowed to continue their advance.
“We have a lot of women. That is when we pursued them and we pursued them out,” Olayiwola said.
He further alleged that several supporters who arrived in a bus lost their mobile phones during the confrontation.
“They picked their phones,” he stated.
Olayiwola also disclosed that police officers eventually intervened in the disturbance.
According to him, the officers fired shots into the air to disperse those involved in the confrontation and restore order.
He claimed that one person apprehended during the incident had been taken to a police station.
“The very person we captured has been taken to the police station. The police people have come out,” he said.
Expressing concern over the security implications of the attack, Olayiwola urged opposition political leaders to strengthen security arrangements ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He warned that similar incidents could undermine political participation and create difficulties for supporters seeking to exercise their voting rights.
According to him, political parties must develop stronger security arrangements at the ward and polling-unit levels to protect their supporters and votes.
“If we really want to win in Lagos State. This is the beginning. We need maximum security,” he declared.
He added that the security arrangements should extend beyond the ward level to individual polling units.
“We need enough security to defend our votes,” he said.
Olayiwola also expressed dissatisfaction with what he considered inadequate protection for grassroots political supporters.
“We are ready to work for them. But all these candidates, I don’t believe they are ready to work for us. That is where we need our security,” he stated.
Another victim, Micheal Ejike, who sustained a head injury during the confrontation, alleged that suspected APC supporters were responsible for the attack.
Ejike claimed that one of the attackers struck him on the head with a bottle while he was attempting to defend himself.
“So, in the process of defending myself. Apparently, I got hit on the head with a bottle by the APC thugs. That was what happened to my head,” he alleged.
He further claimed that the attackers entered the premises without warning, damaged vehicles and pursued those present at the gathering.
“They stormed in. They came in unannounced and destroyed our vehicle. Then chased us. Pushed us to the wall then we had to push back and retaliate,” Ejike recounted.
According to him, the confrontation escalated as participants attempted to resist the attackers.
“While we were defending and having our fights, I got struck in the head with a bottle,” he added.
The accounts of Olayiwola and Ejike described a violent confrontation that disrupted the political gathering and left participants injured.
However, their claims about the identity and political affiliations of the attackers remain allegations, as no independent confirmation was provided in the accounts.
Despite the disruption, the organisers proceeded with the town hall meeting later in the evening.
It was at the eventual commencement of the programme, around 6 p.m., that NDC supporters sang “Arise O Compatriots” instead of the current national anthem.
The anchor subsequently adopted the anthem preferred by the gathering, while Obi encouraged the supporters.
The development brought an additional political dimension to an event already marked by allegations of intimidation and violence.
Although the decision to sing the former anthem may have reflected dissatisfaction among participants following the attack, no formal explanation from the organisers establishing the reason for the choice was provided.
The incident has nevertheless raised concerns about the safety of opposition political gatherings and the potential for violence to disrupt campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
For the participants, the immediate concerns included the injuries sustained, destruction of property, alleged theft of mobile phones and the need for improved security at future political events.
The meeting eventually went ahead despite the earlier disruption, with Obi and his supporters proceeding with the programme after several hours of delay.
Post Title: “Arise O Compatriots” — Peter Obi, NDC Supporters Shun Current National Anthem After Thugs Attack Lagos Town Hall By Naijaonpoint.