NDC supporters sing former anthem at Obi Lagos town hall

Supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress sang Nigeria’s former national anthem at a Peter Obi town hall in Lagos on Thursday, after attendees did not join the current anthem and the event moderator switched songs. The gathering continued after a reported disruption at the venue, though accounts of who organized the attack have not been independently established in the reports.

Video of the anthem sequence showed Obi seated at the front as the moderator called for the national anthem. After attendees did not sing Nigeria, We Hail Thee, the moderator changed to Arise, O Compatriots, and the crowd joined in. The former anthem was Nigeria’s national anthem from independence in 1960 until 1978; it was restored by law in May 2024.

The town hall, held in the Oregun area, was delayed amid reports that people armed with weapons entered the venue and attacked participants. An injured NDC ward chairman, Olamilekan Olayiwola, said the attackers arrived carrying guns, cutlasses and axes and alleged the assault was intended to disrupt the party’s campaign. Another injured participant, Micheal Ejike, said he was struck on the head with a bottle by a suspected APC supporter. Those accounts...