Former Labour Party presidential candidate and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, Peter Obi, on Thursday joined party supporters in singing Nigeria’s former national anthem, ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’, during a town hall meeting in Lagos.

The incident occurred when the event moderator invited attendees to stand for the national anthem. However, Obi, Funso Doherty, the NDC governorship candidate in Lagos, and some other party members reportedly remained seated when the current anthem, ‘Arise, O Compatriots’, was expected to be played.

The moderator subsequently changed the selection to the former anthem, prompting Obi and other supporters to join in the rendition.

During the singing, Obi faced the audience with two fingers raised on both hands, a gesture associated with the NDC’s party symbol. A video capturing the moment has since gained attention on social media.

The incident has attracted interest against the backdrop of the national debate that followed President Bola Tinubu’s decision to restore the country’s original anthem in 2024.

Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill into law on May 29, 2024, bringing back ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ as the official anthem after nearly 46 years of its replacement.

Originally introduced when Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, the anthem remained in use until 1978, when the military government replaced it with ‘Arise, O Compatriots’.

Meanwhile, the NDC gathering was reportedly thrown into confusion earlier after suspected political thugs allegedly stormed the venue armed with cutlasses, sticks and stones. The development forced participants to run for safety.

Obi’s appearance in Lagos also comes with political significance, considering his performance in the state during the 2023 presidential election. Contesting under the Labour Party, he secured 582,354 votes, narrowly defeating Tinubu, who polled 572,606 votes for the APC.