By Idu Jude, Abuja
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) and National Coordinator of the Liberal Progressive and Patriotic Members Congress (LPPMC), Dr. Kingsley Okundaye, has raised the alarm over what he described as brazen and coordinated attacks on opposition party facilities in Edo State and Abuja.
Speaking in a telephone interview with The Sun, Okundaye expressed deep concern over the rising wave of political violence, warning that unchecked criminality could undermine Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the polls.
He described the destruction of opposition party offices in Edo State as alarming, stressing that urgent intervention by the Federal Government and security agencies was required to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
“In the interest of preserving our hard-won democracy and ensuring a peaceful electoral process, decisive action must be taken,” he said.
Okundaye lamented what he termed “the alarming rise in brazen criminality and an entrenched culture of impunity” threatening the foundations of the nation.
“The recent incidents of arson and attacks targeting political party offices in Edo State and now Abuja are not isolated acts,” he said. “They are symptomatic of a deeper malaise that could undermine the integrity of the upcoming elections.”
He cited the February 4, 2026 attack on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secretariat on Ogbelaka Street, Benin City, where suspected political thugs allegedly arrived in a white van, doused the building with fuel and attempted to set it ablaze.
According to him, parts of the structure were gutted by fire, windows shattered, party flags vandalised and billboards destroyed, before residents and passersby raised the alarm and prevented total destruction. ADC officials, he noted, have condemned the incident as a direct assault on democracy.
Okundaye also referenced the recent vandalisation of the Labour Party national secretariat in Abuja, which he linked to internal leadership disputes following a Federal High Court ruling on January 21, 2026, that removed Julius Abure as LP National Chairman and recognised the Senator Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee.
He alleged that loyalists of the ousted faction orchestrated the attack in an attempt to disrupt the transition and intimidate the new leadership, describing it as part of a recurring pattern of politically motivated violence.
“These developments send a chilling message to Nigerians that the electoral season may be marred by violence, intimidation and disruption,” he warned.
Calling for swift action, Okundaye urged the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to thoroughly investigate the incidents and ensure that those responsible, including their sponsors, are brought to justice without delay.
“Unchecked aggression erodes public trust in institutions and discourages civic participation,” he said. “We must not allow criminality to define our democratic future.”