Attack on Ganduje at APC North-East Meeting “Shameful” – Chairman’s Aide

Chief Oliver Okpala, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment to the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, has strongly condemned the attempted physical assault on his principal during the North-East zonal meeting in Gombe on Sunday. Okpala described the incident as “grievously irresponsible and unpatriotic,” warning of its potential to destabilize Nigeria’s fragile political landscape.
In a statement released on Monday, Okpala drew parallels between the incident and the political unrest in the Western Region during the First Republic, which he noted “later snowballed into a national disaster and contributed to the collapse of that Republic.”
Okpala emphasized Ganduje’s commitment to party unity and inclusivity since assuming office, stating, “The National Chairman of APC is a father to all. Since he assumed office, he has been working and uniting all members and showing love to all.”
According to Okpala, Ganduje made efforts to de-escalate tensions at the meeting by highlighting the significance of the North-East to both the APC and the Nigerian government, noting that the zone produced the nation’s Vice President. Despite these efforts, some individuals at the meeting remained unruly and allegedly attempted to assault the chairman as he proceeded to his vehicle.
Okpala commended the swift intervention of security operatives, particularly the Nigerian police, for preventing what he termed “total anarchy and chaos.” He asserted that the attempt to physically attack the national chairman was “an unruly act which must not be allowed to be swept under the carpet.”
He further described the attack as not only a personal affront to Ganduje but also “an insult to the entire national leadership of the APC.” Okpala urged political leaders to counsel their followers to exercise restraint and adhere to established rules, emphasizing that “politics is not about violence; it is dialogue, lobbying, and consultations.”
Questioning the presence of such conduct at a meeting attended by state governors, Okpala remarked, “What an effrontery! This is a dangerous precedent. An occasion like that should have been one of political decorum and responsibility. Instead, some chose brigandage.”
Okpala concluded by calling on those responsible for the disruption to “immediately return to the path of political rectitude,” reiterating that “Dr. Ganduje has always worked for peace and unity. Violence can never have a place in our polity.”