The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned an alleged attack on its leaders and campaign supporters in Okpai community, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, accusing suspected supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of disrupting its campaign activities and injuring members of its team.
The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, when an NDC campaign convoy arrived in Okpai for a political engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The convoy was conveying the party’s Delta North Senatorial candidate, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei; its House of Representatives candidate, Dr. Ben Nwokolo, popularly known as Overdo; and its House of Assembly candidate, Barrister Jahswill Iwe.
In a statement signed by the NDC Chairman for Delta North Senatorial District, Hon. Aaron Udoka Ebenuwa, the party alleged that its campaign venue had been disrupted before the arrival of its candidates, while youths suspected to be APC supporters mounted the only entrance into the community with sticks and other dangerous weapons.
Ebenuwa, who said he was personally present in the convoy, alleged that the group prevented the candidates and their supporters from gaining access to the community for their scheduled campaign engagement.
He further claimed that violence broke out during the incident, leaving three members of Dr. Nwokolo’s media team injured. The injured persons were reportedly taken to hospital for medical attention.
Other media reports on the incident put the number of injured NDC campaign team members at five, although the exact number and identities of those injured have not been independently established.
The party described the development as an attack on its constitutional right to campaign and participate in political activities, insisting that no political organisation should prevent another from engaging residents or canvassing for votes.
Ebenuwa called on the Delta State Commissioner of Police to immediately investigate the incident, identify those responsible and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted.
He warned that the police should not allow political violence and intimidation to undermine public peace, particularly as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
The NDC chairman also linked the Okpai incident to previous disruptions involving the party in Delta State, including the violence that occurred during an NDC-related procession in Asaba on November 7 and an earlier confrontation during the party’s mobilisation activities in Igbodo, Ika North-East Local Government Area.
The Asaba incident, which occurred along Nnebisi Road, resulted in one death and five injuries, according to the Delta State Police Command. The police said an investigation had commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the violence and identify those responsible.
The Okpai incident has added to growing concerns about the safety of political campaigns in Delta State as parties begin mobilising supporters and engaging communities ahead of the next general elections.
Ebenuwa maintained that Delta State belongs to all residents and political groups, arguing that opposition parties must be allowed to exercise their constitutional rights to freedom of association, movement and expression without intimidation.
He also criticised what he described as political intolerance, insisting that democracy requires competing parties to present their candidates and programmes to voters without resorting to threats or violence.
The NDC chairman urged its supporters not to be intimidated by the incident, declaring that the party would continue its political activities despite the alleged obstruction.
Meanwhile, reports on the Okpai incident have also highlighted allegations that the campaign convoy was blocked from entering the community. A video circulating on social media reportedly showed NDC supporters beside vehicles on a road leading into Okpai, complaining that they were being prevented from accessing the area.
However, the identities of those responsible for the alleged obstruction and subsequent violence have not been independently established. The allegation that APC youth groups were involved remains the NDC’s account of the incident and has not been confirmed by an official investigation.
As of the time of filing this report, no official statement from the Delta State Police Command specifically addressing the Okpai incident had been located.
The police are expected to establish what happened, determine the circumstances surrounding the reported injuries and identify anyone involved in the alleged attack.
The incident underscores the need for security agencies and political parties to ensure that campaign activities remain peaceful and that all candidates and supporters can exercise their democratic rights without fear of violence.
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