The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has alleged that its members and supporters were attacked by suspected political thugs during a mobilisation exercise along Airport and Refinery Roads in Uvwie council area of Delta State, on Friday.
The allegation followed the disruption of a mobilisation rally involving supporters of the NDC, including backers of its presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, around Delta Career’s College.
Videos circulating online showed a tense confrontation involving supporters in blue shirts, some of whom were seen carrying sticks.
Comrade Efemena Umukoro, an NDC supporter, made the allegation in videos posted on his Facebook page, accusing supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of carrying out the attack.
Videos seen by The Nation showed a confrontation involving men described by Umukoro as APC thugs and NDC supporters. Police officers were also visible in the videos as the confrontation unfolded.
Umukoro claimed that two NDC supporters were shot during the incident and that an AK-47 rifle allegedly recovered from the attackers was handed over to the police.
In one of the videos, Umukoro while referring to the Delta State Government, said: ‘If you have done anything good why are you fighting the opposition?’
He added: ‘This is the second time this is happening to me. As you believe you have thugs. Your boys came to beg us at Angle Park Roundabout for us to shift grounds, we did. They came to the next roundabout with their thugs, but the masses came out for us and we were able to force our way through.’
He later posted: ‘My men just recovered an AK 47 rifle from APC thugs,’ adding that the weapon had been handed over to the police.
The Delta State Police Command has however denied claims that it was handed an AK-47 rifle, adding that the gunshot wound sustained was from a local gun.
SP Bright Edafe, told The Nation, ‘It should be those small locally made guns, because it is pellets that were removed from his body. He’s alright now. But we are on the trail of the attackers.’
Meanwhile, the NDC governorship candidate in Delta State, Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, condemned what he described as a violent attack that disrupted the party’s rally in Uvwie.
In a statement posted on X, Iyovwaye said the incident would not deter the party from continuing its campaign.
He said anyone seeking to lead the people must prioritise the protection of lives, respect citizens and create an environment where every citizen can live without fear.
The candidate vowed that the NDC would continue to ‘speak, engage, organise and peacefully demand a better Delta State’, stressing that the people deserve better and that the party’s resolve remained strong.
Similarly, the NDC House of Representatives candidate for Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency, Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini, has blamed Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the APC for allegedly mobilising thugs to attack NDC members during the party’s ‘1,000,000-Man March for NDC candidates, 5-over-5’ in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area.
Reports from the scene said NDC supporters, including members of the Obidient and Kwankwasiyya movements, were marching around the Airport Road-Effurun axis when they were confronted by a group of men described by witnesses as political thugs.
Ominimini alleged that the confrontation was not spontaneous, but an attempt to intimidate members of the opposition party and disrupt its campaign activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
‘We hold Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the APC responsible for mobilising thugs to attack our members during the peaceful 1,000,000-Man March in Effurun,’ he said, according to reports of his reaction.
He described the alleged attack as a threat to democratic participation and called on security agencies to investigate the incident and identify those responsible.
The NDC candidate also urged party supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, insisting that the reported confrontation would not stop the party from continuing its mobilisation across Delta.
The Delta State Government and APC had yet to respond to the allegations as of press time.
Meanwhile, an NDC member in a video posted on X has appealed for blood donations for supporters allegedly injured in the incident.
‘Please urgently, we need blood… Please NDC, we’re donating blood for our injured people; we are in the hospital. If you can donate, please come,’ the member said in a message circulated online.
The incident comes amid increased political mobilisation in Delta State ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition parties stepping up activities across the state.