The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC) has condemned the attack on the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) town hall meeting in Lagos.
This was just as the council also condemned reported attacks on political gatherings in Edo, Cross River and Gombe states.
It described the incidents as acts of political violence targeting supporters and leaders across party lines.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the spokesperson of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Alake, called on security agencies to intensify efforts to prevent political violence and bring perpetrators to justice.
“We have observed the recent spate of violent attacks at political gatherings in parts of the country. The reported attacks in Edo, Cross River, and Gombe, and other violence targeted at party supporters and political leaders across party lines are condemnable,” the statement said.
Commenting specifically on the Lagos incident, the council said: “Our campaign strongly condemns the disruption of today’s scheduled town hall meeting of the Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC in Lagos.”
It urged political parties, politicians and their supporters to exercise restraint as activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
The council also called on political actors to focus on issues affecting Nigerians rather than engage in activities capable of causing public disorder.
“We call on the security agencies to be more responsive and alert in preventing political violence of any type and ensure instigators and perpetrators are apprehended and punished in accordance with the law.
“Political parties and candidates are enjoined to campaign on issues that uplift the lives of Nigerians and not to instigate violence at political events,” it said.
Meanwhile, the NDC has called on the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to stop attacking its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and focus on addressing the economic hardship facing Nigerians.
The party made the call in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the spokesperson of its National Campaign Council, Dr Chiogo Constance Ikokwu.
It said the government should prioritise improving the living conditions of Nigerians rather than attacking Obi for raising concerns about the country’s economic situation.
Politics Nigeria reports that the party described statistics as essential tools for measuring progress, identifying failures and guiding public policies, arguing that a government confident in its performance should welcome scrutiny.
“The government should provide credible figures to counter Obi’s claims where necessary rather than attack him for drawing attention to the challenges facing the country,” the statement said.
“The government and its supporters would rather attack the messenger and throw cheap shots than address the real issues,” it added.
It further cited rising prices of essential commodities, including petrol, rice, cement and bread, as evidence of the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians.
According to the party, petrol, which sold for an average of N238.11 per litre in May 2023, now costs between N1,300 and N1,435 per litre in 2026.
It also claimed that the price of a 50kg bag of rice had risen from between N35,000 and N40,000 in mid-2023 to between N50,000 and N90,000, depending on the brand and market.
The party further stated that a 50kg bag of cement, which sold for between N4,010 and N5,300 in 2023, now costs between N10,500 and N15,000.
Similarly, it said the price of bread had increased from between N500 and N700 to between N1,200 and N2,000.
On housing, the NDC claimed that rental costs in major cities, particularly Lagos and Abuja, had increased by between 80 and 120 per cent.
The party challenged the Federal Government to publish its own figures, explain the methodology used and identify any errors in Obi’s analysis.
It also urged the government to learn from developing countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, Rwanda, Morocco and India, which it said had recorded progress in poverty reduction and economic development.
The NDC called on the government to address concerns about Nigeria’s economic performance ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly poverty levels, business growth and the safety of citizens.
“Nigerians deserved leaders who were ready to learn, adopt practical solutions and take responsibility for their actions,” the party added.