2027: Reps Launch Probe into Attacks on Political Gatherings

The House of Representatives has constituted an ad hoc committee to investigate reported cases of political violence, attacks on political gatherings and disruption of political activities across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the House Minority Leader, Fred Agbedi, and 16 other lawmakers during plenary on Thursday.

Moving the motion, Agbedi condemned incidents of violence, intimidation, assault and destruction of property at political rallies, meetings, processions and other lawful political activities, regardless of the political parties or individuals affected.

He warned that the growing incidents, if not addressed, could threaten the peaceful conduct of the 2027 general elections and undermine public confidence in the democratic process.

The Minority Leader cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which guarantees citizens the right to assemble freely and associate with others, including the right to form or belong to political parties.

He also referred to the constitutional provision that makes the security and welfare of citizens the primary responsibility of government, arguing that Nigerians must be able to participate in political activities without fear of attacks or intimidation.

Agbedi urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to avoid inflammatory statements, discourage violence and cooperate with security agencies to maintain public order.

He called on the House to exercise its investigative powers under Section 88(1) of the Constitution to examine the circumstances surrounding the reported attacks and assess the performance of public authorities responsible for enforcing relevant laws.

To highlight the scale of the problem, Agbedi recalled several incidents of political violence recorded in different parts of the country.

He cited the disruption of political meetings in Enugu State on September 12, 2026, during which the police reportedly confirmed that two people were injured and one person was allegedly killed.

He also mentioned the attack on All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters travelling to a rally in Katsina State on October 28, 2026, which reportedly led to the arrest of 14 suspects.

In Nasarawa State, the lawmaker recalled an attack on an APC rally in Lafia on November 4, 2026, where several people were reportedly injured.

Similarly, he drew attention to a violent incident during a political procession in Asaba, Delta State, on November 7, 2026, in which the police reportedly confirmed that one person was killed and five others injured.

Agbedi said the incidents underscored the need for urgent intervention to prevent political disagreements from escalating into violence.

He warned that continued attacks, intimidation and destruction of property could lead to further loss of lives, discourage citizens from participating in lawful political activities and weaken confidence in the electoral process.

However, he cautioned against prematurely identifying those responsible, insisting that allegations surrounding the incidents must be subjected to impartial, thorough and evidence-based investigations.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House constituted an ad hoc committee chaired by the House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, to investigate the immediate and underlying causes of politically motivated violence across the country.

The committee has three weeks to investigate the reported incidents and submit its findings to the House.

Its membership includes the House Leader and Minority Leader, chairmen and deputy chairmen of the House Committees on Police Affairs and National Security and Intelligence, as well as two additional members drawn from the committees.

The investigation comes amid growing political activities as parties and prospective candidates intensify consultations and preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The House’s intervention is aimed at examining the circumstances surrounding the reported attacks and identifying measures to ensure accountability, protect citizens’ constitutional rights and prevent further violence ahead of the polls.

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