Tension briefly erupted at Great Independence Hall of Residence, University of Ibadan, late Friday night, October 30, 2026, following a confrontation involving some residents of Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall and Independence Hall, IndyPress reports.

Recounting the incident, an eyewitness from Indy Hall, who requested anonymity, said the confrontation began when the Zik Hall Chairman arrived at Indy Hall with other residents to campaign for their candidate.

According to the eyewitness, they had earlier been warned against campaigning within Indy Hall, as both halls were conducting separate executive elections.

“The thing was that the Zik Hall Chair came to the hall because they came in to campaign for their candidate. They were told earlier that they shouldn’t do that. You understand that Indy has its own hall executive election, and you have your own executive election. You should respect yourself, but he didn’t want to do that. So, Katangites got furious. In fact, they even begged him to leave. There was an initial chill, but no provocation.”

However, speaking with IndyPress, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall Chairman, Ayomide, disputed the account, insisting that there was no altercation between both halls.

“There was no altercation between Indy and Zik Hall. Indy Hall Excos and some members of the Hall assaulted around 5 Zikites who were passing through Indy. We were just five passing through Indy after going round UI with our candidates for the regular ‘After Manifesto Campaign’

“Before reaching Indy, the candidates already left the movement and other Zikites involved in the campaign. The five of us wanted to pass through Indy to get back to Indy through the small gate connecting Indy to Zik Hall.”

He alleged that Indy Hall executives and some residents assaulted five Zikites who were passing through the hall on their way back to Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall.

“A few steps into Indy, the Sports Secretary of Indy Hall started running towards our direction shouting turn off that Speaker, mind you, no campaign song was playing on the speaker, it was just one of us singing traditional campaign songs to keep us moving as we were tired from the movement.”

“Of course, the person with the mic stopped singing, but the Sports Secretary and other individuals who were there at that moment, like the Secretary of State, didn’t stop acting violently, trying to seize a PA system that wasn’t playing anything.”

The Zik Hall Chairman further alleged that attempts to explain their reason for passing through the hall were unsuccessful, adding that the Sports Secretary subsequently called other Indy Hall residents downstairs.

He claimed that as more residents gathered, some of them physically assaulted the Zik Hall Health Minister, who was attempting to clear a path for the group.

“He was punched, and they carried sticks as if they wanted to beat him to death,” he alleged.

He also claimed that the Indy Hall representative at the Students’ Union Electoral Commission (SUEC), the Sports Secretary, the Secretary of State and other stakeholders were present before the situation escalated.

Describing the incident, he maintained that the Zikites did not retaliate despite the alleged assault.

“Again, it was not an altercation because Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall chose not to fight back. And we didn’t expect such violence from Indy Hall, as this adds to their ‘ever growing’ atrocities during this election period.”

However, speaking with IndyPress, the Indy Hall Assistant General (AG), Obinelo, offered a different account of the incident.

“So, that night, we were back in the Hall, and Zikites was still campaigning. And given the fact that we have a clashing interest in sports… given the fact that we have a clashing interest in sports, we told them that, “Fine, you can pass our hall to pass.” But they should please not campaign, you know, to avoid aggregations, as just a form of respect”

According to him, Indy Hall residents had permitted them to pass through but asked that they refrain from campaigning within the hall to avoid tension.The AG alleged that the request was ignored, resulting in a confrontation between residents of both halls.

He explained that some Indy Hall residents were at the quadrangle when the situation escalated, adding that they had to defend themselves.