ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Government has directed security agencies to investigate a reported confrontation involving supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) during a political mobilisation exercise in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area.
The directive followed the circulation of a video showing a disturbance linked to the political activity, prompting the state government to warn against allowing rivalry ahead of the 2027 elections to undermine public peace or restrict the activities of political parties.
Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori had instructed security agencies to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and take appropriate action against anyone found to have violated the law.
Aniagwu, who spoke on Friday, said the government considered the reported confrontation unacceptable, stressing that political differences should not translate into violence, intimidation or attempts to prevent other political groups from exercising their lawful rights.
The incident reportedly occurred during an NDC mobilisation march in Effurun. Channels Television reported that the march, described as a one-million-man mobilisation for NDC candidates, was disrupted after a confrontation with a group alleged by organisers to be political thugs. The police had not issued an official statement on the incident at the time of the report.
The state government, however, did not attribute responsibility for the confrontation to any particular political party, instead leaving the circumstances and culpability to the investigation ordered by the governor.
Aniagwu said the government’s position was that every political party, candidate and supporter had the right to conduct peaceful campaign activities anywhere in Delta State, provided such activities complied with the law.
He said the administration would not support the use of force or intimidation to settle political disagreements, regardless of the party or individuals involved.
According to him, political competition should be based on ideas, programmes and records rather than physical confrontation.
The commissioner also warned political actors and their supporters against treating party affiliation as protection from prosecution where an offence had been committed.
“Political affiliation is not a shield against the law. If anybody commits an offence, the law should take its course,” Aniagwu said.
He urged political parties, candidates, community leaders, youth organisations and other stakeholders to take responsibility for the conduct of their supporters as political activities intensify.
Aniagwu further called on security agencies to maintain vigilance and ensure that political actors could participate in lawful activities without intimidation or obstruction.
The government said it would continue to support peaceful political engagement across the state while taking action against conduct capable of threatening public safety.
The commissioner also appealed to politicians to avoid actions that could place citizens at risk, stressing that political ambition should not come at the expense of human lives.
