In the run‑up to Nigeria’s 2027 general election, opposition parties are facing mounting pressure from both political violence and legal setbacks, according to reports from the wire service.
During a town‑hall tour in Calabar, Cross River State, the convoy of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi was attacked. Windshields were smashed and several members of Obi’s campaign team sustained injuries as they entered the city.
Obi has previously endured similar hostility. In Edo State, his convoy was assaulted at the former governor’s residence, and in Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has declared Obi a “persona non grata,” preventing him from entering the state on two occasions. Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has also barred Obi from campaigning there.
In a separate development, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Odo Lifu, invalidated the National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by David Mark. The ruling also voided the candidacy of former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar, dealing a blow to the party’s prospects for the upcoming election.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has reportedly secured the support of 34 of the 36 state governors, who have been pressured to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). State authorities have imposed restrictions on opposition campaign billboards, and the Federal Capital Territory is dominated by APC campaign posters, limiting the visibility of rival parties.
With only two months to the presidential election, the combination of targeted attacks, judicial rulings, and state‑level restrictions is raising concerns about the health of Nigeria’s democratic space.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
