ADC flays Ekiti secretariat attack, seeks probe
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the burning of its secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, describing the attack as a deliberate attempt to intimidate the opposition ahead of the next governorship election in Ekiti State. The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, reportedly reduced the party’s office along Basiri Road to rubble, destroying […]
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the burning of its secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, describing the attack as a deliberate attempt to intimidate the opposition ahead of the next governorship election in Ekiti State.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, reportedly reduced the party’s office along Basiri Road to rubble, destroying canopies, chairs, musical instruments, and a motorbike. Witnesses said the arsonists returned hours later on Tuesday to inflict more damage.
ADC’s National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who visited the site on Tuesday, described the incident as “barbaric, undemocratic, and deeply shameful.”
He said it was unfortunate that “products of a democratic process could exhibit such despicable acts in the name of politics.”
“It is difficult to adequately express my disappointment over this incident. What we have witnessed here is a terrible decline in democratic values,” Aregbesola said. “The beauty of democracy lies in the freedom to associate, participate, and express one’s political convictions without fear. What happened here undermines that principle.”
He called on security agencies to immediately arrest and prosecute the perpetrators, warning that unchecked acts of political violence could set a dangerous precedent.
Similarly, ADC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said in a statement that the attack was part of a disturbing pattern of aggression against the party’s members and assets nationwide since the Opposition Coalition unveiled the ADC as its party of choice in July.
“In Kaduna, Lagos, Kebbi, Kogi, and Edo, our members and structures have been targeted. Each incident might seem isolated, but together they form a pattern too dangerous to ignore,” Abdullahi said. “Democracy is under threat if opposition parties continue to be attacked with impunity.”
He accused those behind the arson of attempting to sabotage the party’s Reconfiguration and Affirmation Ceremony for its ward, local government, senatorial, and state executives, which was scheduled to hold the same day.
“The attack in Ekiti was not random; it was calculated to disrupt our activities and silence our growing movement,” Abdullahi stated. “But we want the world to know that we are not just victims. We are being attacked because our message is resonating with ordinary Nigerians who are tired of the failures of the APC-led administration.”
The ADC vowed to go ahead with the affirmation ceremony despite the destruction. “Whether in a hall or under a tree, we will continue to build and organise,” Abdullahi added. “Those who resort to fire do so only when they have run out of arguments.”
The Ekiti State Police Command confirmed the incident, with its spokesperson SP Sunday Abutu disclosing that Commissioner of Police Joseph Eribo had ordered a full investigation to bring the culprits to justice.
Meanwhile, ADC State Chairman Ilesanmi Omolayo urged party members to remain resolute, describing the incident as evidence of the ruling party’s fear of ADC’s rising influence in the state.
He was joined at the scene by several party chieftains, including former Deputy Governor Prof. Olusola Eleka, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogun, Barrister Leke Abejide, and Hon. Yemi Arokodare, who collectively pledged to rebuild the secretariat and sustain the party’s mobilisation ahead of future elections.
The ADC also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society groups, and international observers to take note of what it described as a “quiet war” against opposition parties in Nigeria, warning that “a system that looks away while opposition voices are violently suppressed is a system begging for crisis.”
Provide evidence of our involvement – APC
But reacting to the allegations, the APC National Director of Publicity, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, asked the ADC to provide evidence that the party engaged in arson.
In a telephone chat with Daily Trust last night, Ibrahim said, “How can the APC engage in such arson or destructive activity? This is in conflict with the provisions of the terms of reference of the party.
“The APC does not engage in arson. It doesn’t go into such criminality. If the ADC has evidence or proof of the hand of APC in what was done, they should not hesitate in submitting that evidence to the law enforcement.”
He also asked security agencies to do their job by bringing to justice perpetrators of the crime.
Pattern of attacks across states
The Ado-Ekiti arson comes amid a growing pattern of attacks and intimidation targeting ADC members and facilities across several states.
In Kaduna, suspected thugs invaded an ADC transition meeting on August 30, injuring several members and vandalising vehicles. The party accused police of standing by as the attackers disrupted proceedings, while later sealing its offices ahead of a scheduled gathering.
In Kebbi, early in September, the convoy of former Attorney-General and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami, a prominent ADC figure, was ambushed in Birnin Kebbi. Several vehicles were vandalised, and supporters injured. The party also alleged that state authorities were using the judiciary and security agencies to intimidate its members.
In Kogi, hoodlums reportedly stormed the ADC secretariat in Omala Local Government Area, destroying party documents, furniture, and flags. The incident, which occurred in September, followed what the party described as a plot by powerful individuals to hijack its state leadership.
In Lagos, a rally organised by the ADC in Alimosho was attacked by thugs who vandalised vehicles and injured participants. The event was meant to welcome new members, including opposition figures. The Lagos State Police Command denied knowledge of the incident, but the ADC insisted it was politically motivated.
In Edo, the ADC accused the state government and ruling party officials of issuing threats and restricting opposition activity. The party condemned statements credited to Governor Monday Okpebholo and APC leaders warning ADC supporters against hosting opposition figures, describing them as “chilling threats to democratic participation.”
These incidents, the ADC said, form a clear pattern of political aggression designed to stifle opposition voices nationwide. “Each case might seem isolated, but together they reveal a coordinated effort to silence us,” the party’s National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said.
Analyst: Attacks dangerous for democracy
Commenting, a political analyst, Dr Jide Ojo, described the rising trend of attacks on opposition members across Nigeria as a dangerous development for the country’s democracy, warning that such intolerance threatens constitutional governance and political stability.
Reacting to the recent attack on opposition figures in Ekiti State, Ojo said the incident reflected a growing culture of political intolerance among ruling party members.
“It is unfortunate that we now have a culture of intolerance of opposition elements, and this portends danger for our democratic effort,” Ojo said. “If the opposition cannot hold meetings freely, then democracy is under threat. I recall that in Lagos, there was a similar attack on the Labour Party candidate when he joined the ADC. The Ekiti case seems to be the latest example.”
He called on the APC leadership to caution its members and promote tolerance, reminding them that the party once operated as an opposition and benefited from a free political environment.
“The leadership of the APC needs to rein in its members across the states. They should not forget that they were previously in opposition themselves. If the government at that time had clamped down on them, perhaps they would never have been part of the government today,” he said.
Ojo said the pattern of attacks, especially those targeted at members of the ADC, is “uncalled for” and risks eroding public trust in democratic institutions. He added that even when the APC denies involvement, the circumstances around such attacks often suggest otherwise.
“There’s no smoke without fire,” he noted. “It is not ordinary citizens who disrupt meetings or attack opposition chieftains. These actions usually come from within the ruling system.”
He urged the ruling party to take responsibility for restoring civility to Nigeria’s political space, stressing that tolerance is vital for sustaining democracy.
“The first port of call should be for the ruling party to promote a culture of political tolerance because an eye for an eye will leave everyone blind,” he said. “Security agencies must also be more proactive. It is curious that these attacks are happening outside the campaign season. If this were during an election period, one might assume they were trying to outdo one another, but this is a non-election period.”
Ojo contrasted the situation in Ekiti with Anambra State, where the governorship election is approaching but political violence has remained minimal.
“We are not seeing this kind of violence in Anambra, whose election is imminent. Beyond the exchanges between Uche and Governor Soludo, there have been no reports of physical attacks. What is happening in Ekiti and other states should therefore be widely condemned because it is heating up the polity,” he said.