A civic group, the Democracy and Good Governance Watch Initiative (DGGWI), has criticised Peter Obi and members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over a Lagos town hall meeting where the party declined to sing Nigeria’s restored national anthem. 

The group also raised concerns about allegations of political violence at the gathering.

At the event in Oregun, Ikeja, on Thursday, November 12, Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, and Funso Doherty, the party’s Lagos governorship candidate, did not stand when the anchor called for “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”.

The anchor then switched to “Arise, O Compatriots”, which the hall sang, with Obi facing the crowd and raising two fingers on each hand in the party’s symbol. President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill into law on May 29, 2024, restoring “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”, which was first used at independence in 1960 and replaced in 1978.

DGGWI described the conduct as unfortunate, provocative and reckless. It argued that Section 2 of the Act recognises the anthem as a national symbol that must be respected, and questioned the suitability of anyone seeking the presidency who allegedly refuses to honour such symbols.

The group also expressed concern over videos allegedly showing NDC members and supporters brandishing weapons and chanting “rig and die” at the meeting, and warned that the 2027 electoral process must be decided by votes and not by threats or violence.

Others have joined the criticism. The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said the incident raised questions about Obi’s presidential credentials, while Rivers State’s Nyesom Wike and presidential aide Reno Omokri also condemned the act.

The NDC has a different account. Doherty said the old anthem was sung spontaneously by attendees, that the current anthem was sung afterwards, and that Nigeria has only one national anthem.

The party also points to the violence that preceded the event. Suspected thugs armed with cutlasses, cudgels and stones stormed the Oregun venue, injuring several people, damaging vehicles and forcing attendees to flee, with police reportedly firing shots. Obi condemned the attack, and Doherty said the supporters’ resistance showed that Obi remains popular in Lagos.

NDC supporters have blamed APC-linked thugs, an allegation that has not been established. The incident also follows a reported attack on Obi’s convoy in Calabar on November 4.

The row comes as parties position themselves for the 2027 general elections. Obi won Lagos State in the 2023 presidential election with 582,354 votes on the Labour Party platform before moving to the NDC.