{
  "id": 10374133,
  "title": "2027 elections: Rising political thuggery sparks fears of violent campaigns",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/2027-elections-rising-political-thuggery-sparks-fears-of-violent",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T05:42:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/28/2027-elections-rising-political-thuggery-sparks-fears-of-violent-campaigns/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As the 2027 general election campaigns began on August 19, instances of political violence have been escalating across various states in Nigeria, prompting fears of a potential violent campaign season. According to DAILY POST, attacks by political thugs have been reported in Kogi, Benue, Kano, Enugu, Kaduna, Delta, Rivers and other regions. In some cases, party officials and supporters were injured, heightening concerns for the safety of those participating in the election process. The All Progressives Congress, APC, has also accused others of carrying out attacks on their members and supporters, while many of the reported incidents have targeted opposition parties, including the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC; African Democratic Congress, ADC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.\n\nOn September 15, political thugs allegedly backed by the APC disrupted a meeting of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Kogi State's Ejule town. During the event, suspected attackers opened fire into the air, causing panic among participants and local residents. At least one ADC member was seriously injured and taken to the hospital. The occurrence sparked fresh worries over the security situation in Ofu Local Government Area, which has experienced politically motivated violence before, notably in 2019 when a PDP Women Leader was reportedly killed in her home during a gubernatorial election.\n\nIn Benue State, on September 8, the motorcade of the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was attacked by suspected thugs as they attempted to travel through Makurdi, the capital. Over a dozen supporters of the NDC candidate were injured and hospitalized at Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, following the incident. The Benue State Government denied allegations that government officials were responsible for sponsoring the attackers, but 46 suspects were later paraded by the police and warned that they would not tolerate any acts of political intolerance.\n\nIn Kano State, on September 5, police officers and journalists covering an APC rally were violently attacked by suspected political thugs near North West University. The attackers destroyed a Radio Nigeria vehicle, causing significant damage. This incident came only a week after a teenager named Yusuf Ahmad was murdered in a suspected reprisal attack following a clash between two youth groups.\n\nDelta State saw a campaign rally interference by suspected thugs on September 10, disrupting a gathering of NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Warri. Esther Umoh, a photographer allied with Obi, alleged on X that attackers had targeted members of the entourage of the Delta State governorship candidate and other Obidient and Kwankwasiya supporters. A video shared with the claim showed a chaotic scene, with people reportedly saying, \"Look at the thugs, they came to attack us. We must face them. We are fully ready for them.\"\n\nLastly, in Kaduna State, members of the ADC who arrived to receive the party's governorship candidate, Isa Mohammed Ashiru, after his Lesser Hajj pilgrimage, were attacked by political thugs. Vehicles belonging to ADC members and supporters were vandalized while the thugs were seen entering the Kaduna State Secretariat of the Renewed Hope Movement. The opposition party expressed concerns over the safety of those involved in the upcoming general elections.",
  "summary": "There are growing concerns over the emerging trend of political thuggery and violence surrounding the 2027 general election campaigns across several states. DAILY POST reports that since the campaigns commenced on August 19, several attacks linked to political thugs have been recorded in Kogi, Benue, Kano, Enugu, Kaduna, Delta, Rivers and other states. In some […] 2027 elections: Rising political…",
  "key_points": [
    "Political violence escalating ahead of 2027 Nigerian elections",
    "APC accuses others of attacks on members, supporters",
    "Opposition parties targeted in multiple regions"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Escalating political violence across Nigeria sparks fears of a potentially violent 2027 campaign season, heightening concerns for the safety of participants and suggesting an increasingly toxic electoral environment.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}