The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the burning of its party secretariat in Ubima, Rivers State, describing the incident as a criminal act and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic process.
In a statement issued on Friday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the building was set ablaze by suspected thugs allegedly loyal to the ruling party.
Abdullahi described the incident as a direct attack on democracy, political tolerance, and the constitutional rights of Nigerians to freely associate and participate in politics.
“The African Democratic Congress strongly condemns the criminal attack on our party secretariat in Ubima, which was burnt to the ground last night by thugs loyal to the ruling party,” he said.
According to him, the destruction of the facility goes beyond an attack on the party, warning that such acts threaten democratic values and peaceful political participation.
“This fire is not only an attack on the African Democratic Congress as a political party; it is also a direct assault on democracy, political tolerance, and the constitutional rights of Nigerians to freely associate and participate in the democratic process,” Abdullahi added.
The ADC spokesman further alleged that the incident forms part of a broader pattern of intimidation targeting the party and its members.
He claimed that only a few days earlier, ADC members were reportedly shot at during a political gathering, raising concerns about escalating violence against opposition figures.
Abdullahi warned that those responsible for political violence should not assume that opposition parties are incapable of defending themselves, while reiterating that the ADC remains committed to peaceful and lawful political engagement.
“We will not stand by and allow our members, supporters, and facilities to become easy targets for political thuggery,” he said.
The party called on relevant authorities to investigate the incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Comments