Obi warns of "anarchy" after attack on Nigeria Democratic Congress supporters in Enugu

ENUGU, Oct 12 – Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, condemned an attack on party supporters in Enugu State. He warned officials that "when anarchy comes, it consumes everybody," as police opened an investigation into the shootings.

"The unfortunate incident that happened today in Enugu State, where NDC supporters were attacked by political thugs, has reportedly claimed one life," Obi said in a video posted on X, Daily Post reported. [dailypost](https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/11/anarchy-will-consume-everybody-peter-obi-breaks-silence-on-enugu-ndc-attack-video/)

The violence happened on Saturday. Supporters had gathered at Akanu Ibiam International Airport to welcome the party's Enugu governorship candidate, Chinyeaka Ohaa, ahead of his campaign flag-off, Premium Times reported. Video clips showed people running for safety amid gunfire. [premiumtimesng](https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-east/916042-video-sporadic-shootings-as-thugs-attack-ndc-supporters-in-enugu.html)

Police spokesman Daniel Ndukwe said the state's criminal investigation department had been ordered to find those behind a shooting outside the party secretariat. In that incident a man was wounded and five vehicles were damaged, Sahara Reporters reported. No arrests were announced. [saharareporters](https://saharareporters.com/2026/10/11/enugu-police-probe-shooting-ndc-secretariat-man-sustains-gunshot-injury-five-vehicles)

Amnesty International condemned the attack. Some supporters said they were shot at and tear-gassed while security operatives looked on. [dailypost](https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/11/amnesty-condemns-attack-on-ndc-supporters-at-enugu-airport/)

The Enugu State government denied any role. Its secretary, Chidiebere Onyia, said the party had not secured approval from the airports authority for a rally there. "We can, therefore, authoritatively report that there were no deaths as falsely claimed by some reports and NDC leaders," he said, Vanguard reported. [vanguardngr](https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/10/2027-enugu-govt-alleges-opposition-plot-to-import-armed-t-bandits/)

The violence came as Obi spent the weekend on voter turnout. In a TikTok livestream with content creators on Sunday, he said he was not asking for votes because of his ethnicity. "I don't want people to follow me, vote for me because it's my turn because I'm an Igbo man ... I want a fair competition based on competence, yes, based on capacity, based on compassion, based on commitment," he said, Sahara Reporters reported. [saharareporters](https://saharareporters.com/2026/10/12/dont-vote-me-because-im-igbo-peter-obi-tells-nigerians-ahead-2027-election)

He urged voters to stay at polling units until ballots are counted and to follow results to collation centres. "Our elections must be free, fair and credible," he said.

Obi also criticised the federal government's 30-day petrol discount, calling it an attempt to substitute "political optics for sound policy." "What really does the President Bola Tinubu-led government want to achieve with a one-month discount of less than 5% on fuel cost?" he asked, Vanguard reported. [vanguardngr](https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/10/peter-obi-faults-tinubus-30-day-petrol-discount-calls-policy-reactive/)

The party is also dealing with a ballot dispute in Kano, home state of running mate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. INEC's final governorship list, published on Saturday, left out the party's Kano candidate Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo and his running mate Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, Kwankwaso's eldest son, The Guardian reported. [guardian](https://guardian.ng/politics/2027-ndc-rejects-inec-list/)

Party officials said INEC had blamed a computer error and promised to fix it, Premium Times reported. The Kwankwasiyya Movement urged supporters to "remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from speculation," Channels Television reported. Under the Electoral Act, parties have 14 days to notify INEC of a missing candidate. [channelstv](https://www.channelstv.com/2026/10/11/kwankwasiyya-movement-urges-calm-over-omission-of-ndc-candidate-from-inec-list/)

The party will inaugurate its Presidential Campaign Council on Oct. 20. National chairman Moses Cleopas reaffirmed the leadership's support for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket, Vanguard reported. Obi and Kwankwaso will nominate the director-general and other key officials, Daily Trust reported. [vanguardngr](https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/10/2027-well-match-apc-fire-for-fire-says-ndc-inaugurates-campaign-council-october-20/)

The ruling All Progressives Congress has gone on the attack. On Oct. 9 its campaign council, through spokesman Dele Alake, called on Obi to quit the race over his BBC remark that he won the 2023 election, Legit.ng reported. The statement also cited a dispute over liabilities from his time as Anambra governor. [legit](https://www.legit.ng/politics/1735312-breaking-apc-tells-peter-obi-quit-2027-election-race-reason/)

In a separate interview with Arise News, Obi declined to commit to stepping aside for opposition rival Atiku Abubakar, saying any coalition was for the parties to decide. "What I'm offering people is a better Nigeria," he said, BusinessDay reported. He also repeated his pledge to serve a single term. [businessday](https://businessday.ng/news/article/2027-obi-refuses-to-commit-to-stepping-down-for-atiku-says-party-will-decide/)

Obi, a former Anambra governor, finished third in the 2023 presidential election. Kwankwaso, a former Kano governor, finished fourth. Their ticket pairs a southeastern Christian with a northwestern Muslim. They face President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Atiku of the African Democratic Congress in an 18-candidate field. The presidential election is set for Jan. 16, 2027, BusinessDay reported from INEC's list, 96 days from now. [businessday](https://businessday.ng/news/article/inec-tinubu-atiku-obi-lead-18-candidate-field-for-2027-presidency/)

SDP and AAC briefs

Social Democratic Party (Adewole Adebayo). SDP candidate Adewole Adebayo also condemned the Enugu violence, calling it a direct attack on democracy. "I'm saddened by the news of the shootings at the supporters of NDC whose only crime was to go to the airport to welcome their governorship candidate," he said. He called for "a full-scale unbiased investigation," Daily Post reported. He also urged the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to protect all parties equally. [dailypost](https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/12/im-saddened-adebayo-condemns-violence-against-ndc-supporters-in-enugu/)

African Action Congress (Omoyele Sowore). In an AIT interview on Saturday, AAC candidate Omoyele Sowore said his government would raise revenue by widening the tax base rather than adding new taxes. "We are not going to introduce tax, but we would expand the tax base," he said, TheCable reported. He also said oil companies owe more than $62 billion in unpaid royalties. [thecable](https://www.thecable.ng/sowore-fg-should-expand-tax-base-not-impose-more-taxes-on-citizens/)

Separately, the DSS told its lawyer to seek an adjournment of its cyberbullying case against Sowore until after the Jan. 16 poll, The Sun reported. [thesun](https://thesun.ng/dss-pauses-sowores-prosecution-until-after-2027-presidential-poll/)