Arise News anchor, Rufai Oseni, has condemned the repeated attacks on the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), expressing concern over the growing disruption of the party’s political activities.
Oseni spoke while reacting to the invasion of an NDC town hall meeting in Lagos, where suspected thugs reportedly stormed the venue armed with cutlasses, sticks and stones, disrupting proceedings and forcing participants to flee.
Speaking on Friday during Arise Television’s Morning Show, the broadcaster questioned the circumstances surrounding the frequent attacks on the opposition party, alleging that electoral manipulation and political violence had become ways through which incumbent governments retain power.
He argued that the repeated incidents should prompt Nigerians to demand explanations about why the NDC continues to face attacks.
“The attacks on the NDC have become far too frequent. The real question is: why are these attacks happening?
“They should remember that democracy cannot be built on violence, it will never work,” Oseni said.
The Arise News anchor also criticised the slogan “rig and die,” insisting that attention should instead be focused on understanding why elections are allegedly being manipulated.
“I do not support ‘rig and die,’ but the deeper question is why they are rigging in the first place,” he added.
Oseni further expressed pessimism about the possibility of accountability over the Lagos incident, alleging that the government benefits from political disruptions during elections.
He also claimed that when electoral manipulation and disruptions do not produce the desired outcome, those in power resort to the judiciary to achieve their objectives.
