Labour Party Candidate Alleges Attack by Iba Monarch, Political Thugs During Ojo Council Campaign
A Labour Party candidate in the forthcoming Ojo Local Government Council elections, Akogun Abudu, has raised the alarm over an alleged attack on his campaign team by thugs reportedly led by the traditional ruler of Iba Kingdom, the Oniba of Iba.
The incident, according to Abudu, occurred on Saturday evening while his team was canvassing support in Iba, a community in the Ojo area of Lagos State.
Abudu, in a statement released shortly after the incident, claimed that the monarch interrupted his campaign activities and physically harassed members of his team. He further alleged that the traditional ruler openly declared the area an “APC town,” warning opposition parties to steer clear.
“Our team was violently attacked while peacefully engaging with residents of Iba. The monarch, His Royal Majesty, the Oniba of Iba, personally disrupted our campaign and declared that no political party aside from the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be allowed to campaign in the area,” Abudu said.
He added that the attack happened at about 5:17 p.m. and that some of his supporters were injured in the commotion.
The LP candidate described the incident as a direct threat to democratic values and called on security agencies and electoral authorities to investigate the matter urgently.
“This is not just an attack on me as a candidate, but on the entire democratic process. No monarch or political actor has the right to deny others the freedom to campaign and engage with the electorate,” he said.
Eyewitnesses corroborated parts of Abudu’s account, alleging that known political thugs accompanied the monarch and disrupted the campaign rally. Videos circulating on social media appear to show a confrontation between youths wearing Labour Party insignia and others shouting pro-APC slogans, although the authenticity of the footage is yet to be verified.
The incident has sparked outrage among Labour Party supporters and civil society observers, who have called for immediate intervention by the Lagos State government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Some have also raised concerns about the increasing role of traditional rulers in partisan politics.
Attempts to reach the palace of the Oniba of Iba for a response were unsuccessful as of press time. No official statement has yet been released by the Lagos State Police Command regarding the alleged attack.
Political analysts say the development could escalate tensions ahead of the local council elections, which are expected to be hotly contested. Labour Party leaders have vowed not to be intimidated, asserting that their candidates will continue to campaign across all parts of the local government.
Abudu has called on Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and relevant security agencies to ensure a level playing field for all political actors and to protect citizens’ rights to peaceful political participation.
As of the time of this report, no arrests have been made, and the situation in Iba is reportedly calm but tense. Observers continue to monitor developments as campaigns intensify in Ojo and surrounding communities.
