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By Myke Agunwa
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned what it described as a “deliberate act of political terrorism” following the attack on its Ekiti State Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti on Monday morning and called for an investigation.
The attack, which occurred just hours before the party’s scheduled Reconfiguration and Affirmation Ceremony of its executives, led to the destruction of property and vital documents at the secretariat.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC alleged that the incident formed part of a “disturbing pattern of orchestrated aggression” against its members and offices across the country.
The party called for an independent investigation, the prosecution of perpetrators, and closer monitoring by civil society groups and international observers, warning that Nigeria’s democracy was “under threat” if opposition parties continued to be targeted with impunity.
“This was a deliberate act of arson intended to sabotage and terrorize the opposition ahead of the Governorship election in the State.
“The ADC condemns this barbaric act in the strongest possible terms. It is criminal, anti-democratic, and a disgrace to all who claim to believe in political freedom.” Abdullahi said.
The party added that the Ado-Ekiti attack was not an isolated incident, but part of a broader pattern of intimidation since the Opposition Coalition adopted the ADC as its preferred platform in July.
According to the statement, similar attacks had occurred in Kaduna, Lagos, Kebbi, Kogi, and Edo States, each targeting ADC members and structures.
“In Kaduna, on August 30, some of our party leaders were attacked when an inauguration event was violently disrupted. In Lagos, our leaders were assaulted in Alimosho. In Kebbi, the convoy of our leaders came under attack in Birnin Kebbi in early September. And in Kogi, our party secretariat in Dekina was targeted.
“Taken together, these incidents form a pattern too dangerous to ignore. This is no longer about partisanship. It is about the integrity of the political process itself,” he said.
The ADC lamented what it called a “conspiracy of silence” from the authorities and political actors who claim to defend democracy, warning that the continued failure to act could push the country toward deeper instability.
“A system that looks away while opposition parties are violently suppressed is a system begging for crisis,” Abdullahi added.
The party alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was behind the attacks, claiming that the incidents reflected the ruling party’s fear of ADC’s growing popularity.
“We are being attacked because our message is resonating with the everyday Nigerian who is tired of the failures of the APC-led administration.
“The fire in Ekiti is further confirmation that the APC is afraid of the rising wave of the ADC,” the party stated.
However, as of press time, APC officials in Ekiti had not issued a response to the allegation.
Despite the damage, the ADC vowed that its Affirmation Ceremony in Ekiti would still go ahead as planned, symbolising what it described as the party’s resilience and commitment to democracy.
“Despite the ashes, our Affirmation Ceremony in Ekiti will still proceed, whether in a hall or under a tree.
“Those who resort to fire do so only when they have run out of arguments. The ADC is not going away. We will continue to build, to organise, and to stand firm,” he said.
The party reiterated its call on security agencies to identify and prosecute those behind the attacks, adding that political violence must not be allowed to become a norm in Nigeria’s democratic process.