Bank-Anthony made the clarification during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday, November 13, following the disturbance at Classique Event Centre in the Oregun area of Ikeja.

The meeting, organised for the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was disrupted on Thursday after suspected hoodlums invaded the venue while supporters were preparing for the gathering. The incident reportedly left some participants injured and vehicles damaged.

Reacting to the development, Bank-Anthony described the incident as disturbing, arguing that political violence should not automatically be attributed to political parties.

He maintained that the individuals responsible were miscreants seeking personal benefits through intimidation rather than genuine political actors.

The APC chieftain also claimed that his party had experienced similar attacks in other parts of the country, including Kaduna, although he did not provide further details about the incident he referenced.

He insisted that the APC neither supports nor encourages political violence, stressing that those responsible should face the consequences of their actions.

Bank-Anthony called on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to respond more promptly to incidents involving attacks on political gatherings, warning that failure to hold perpetrators accountable could encourage further violence.

However, the NDC's Lagos State House of Assembly candidate, Rotimi Obasanjo, accused the APC of benefiting from a political environment in which intimidation and violence undermine opposition activities.

Obasanjo alleged that the ruling party was uncomfortable with the growth of opposition groups and peaceful political gatherings capable of challenging its influence.

He also claimed that the NDC had anticipated possible disruption and notified security agencies ahead of the meeting.

The competing allegations have intensified political exchanges following the incident, which occurred amid growing concerns about the safety of political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Meanwhile, the APC Presidential Campaign Council has publicly condemned the disruption and called on security agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible for attacks on political gatherings.

The Lagos State Police Command has also confirmed an investigation into the incident, while reports indicate that a suspected attacker was arrested.

Although allegations have been made against political actors, no independently established evidence has linked the attackers to the APC. The circumstances surrounding the disruption and the identities of those responsible remain matters for investigation.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia