Protesters demanding the resignation of APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje were attacked by suspected thugs at the party's headquarters in Abuja, leading to pandemonium and injuries, reigniting concerns over political violence in Nigeria.
Scenes of chaos and violence erupted at the national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja on Thursday as a peaceful protest against the controversial national chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, was reportedly disrupted by a group of thugs believed to be loyal to the embattled politician.
The anti-Ganduje agitators, who had gathered to demand Ganduje's resignation, were suddenly attacked by the suspected thugs carrying sticks, who proceeded to destroy their banners, and placards, and physically assault them as they approached the APC national secretariat.
Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene of pandemonium as protesters scrambled for safety, with some sustaining injuries in the melee. The leader of the protest, Hamisu Suleiman Sardauna, later addressed the group at an open location in Wuse 2, where he called on critical stakeholders within the party to remove Ganduje from the chairmanship position and return it to the North-Central zone in line with the APC's zoning arrangement of 2022.
"We are peacemakers. We are members of this party, so nobody can deny us justice. We are here for a peaceful protest, but some thugs came around and beat our members. This is shameful," Sardauna stated.
Sani Ibrahim Jigas, the chairman of the APC Stakeholders' Forum in Nasarawa State, echoed similar sentiments, asserting that former national chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu's replacement should have come from the North-Central region. He urged APC stakeholders to ensure justice was served.
"Some of our members are now in the hospital because they were beaten by thugs a few minutes ago. Shame to whoever sent them to attack our members," Jigas said, condemning the violence.
The incident has reignited concerns over the use of thugs and hired muscle in Nigerian politics, with political analysts and civil society organizations calling for accountability and the protection of citizens' rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
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