The convoy of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), was attacked by suspected political thugs in Calabar, Cross River State, on Wednesday.
Politics Nigeria reports that the attack occurred shortly after Obi arrived in the state capital for the party’s presidential town hall meeting at Metropolitan Hotel.
Obi’s convoy was reportedly moving through the metropolis amid cheers from supporters when the attackers ambushed it around the popular Watt Market area.
The suspected thugs allegedly hurled stones, bottles and other dangerous objects at the vehicles and party supporters, triggering panic and disrupting commercial activities and vehicular movement.
Several NDC supporters reportedly sustained injuries, while some vehicles were damaged, with their windscreens shattered.
However, operatives of the Cross River State Police Command intervened and dispersed the attackers, restoring order to the area.
The police also arrested a 27-year-old suspect identified as Victor Edet Yellow-Duke in connection with the incident.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, confirmed the arrest in a statement made available to journalists in Calabar.
He said investigations had commenced to identify other individuals involved in the attack and their sponsors.
“NDC supporters under heavy attack in Watt Market. The police have made an arrest to this effect. The suspect name is Victor Edet Yellow Duke, male, 27 years,” Eitokpah said.
The police spokesman assured residents that normalcy had been restored, adding that adequate security personnel had been deployed to strategic locations to prevent further attacks.
Despite the incident, Obi proceeded to the town hall meeting, where he was expected to engage party supporters and stakeholders in the state.
Politics Nigeria reports that the Calabar incident comes days after the NDC accused operatives of the Nigeria Police Force of firing tear gas into a party gathering in Umuokara, Orba, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The incident reportedly occurred on Monday, November 2, 2026, during a town hall meeting organised to pray for the party’s deputy governorship candidate in the state, Dr Frank Omeje Okenwa.
Several elderly men and women were reportedly hospitalised following the alleged police action at Ofu Okara village square.
The party described the incident as a “savage and unprovoked” attack on peaceful citizens and called for an investigation into the conduct of the officers involved.
It also alleged that the police had failed to arrest those responsible for previous attacks on its members in the state, including a fatal shooting on October 10.
The NDC further accused the police of arresting a man who filmed an attack on its members in Obunoffia Ward, Nkanu West Local Government Area, on September 12, instead of apprehending those responsible.
In a statement issued by the Office of the Media Aide to the NDC governorship candidate, Sir Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa, the party alleged that the organisers had applied and paid for police protection.
According to the statement, the organisers paid N160,000 through a point-of-sale (POS) transaction as directed by the DPO, Mr Abraham Abrajas.
“The event had already started. The elders were seated. Prayers were ongoing. It was in the middle of the meeting that ‘orders from above’ arrived,” the statement read.
“They applied for police coverage and paid the sum of one hundred and sixty thousand naira (N160,000) as directed by the Divisional Police Officer of Obollo-Afor, Mr. Abraham Abrajas. The payment was made through POS as directed by the DPO.”
The party alleged that despite the payment, about four police Hilux vans arrived at the venue under Abrajas’ leadership, after which officers fired tear gas directly into the gathering.
