By Our Correspondent
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reportedly announced plans to compile and present a comprehensive report of alleged attacks against its members to the ECOWAS Court of Justice and diplomatic missions, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating political intimidation and terror.
Speaking in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said: “We are compiling all cases of acts of terrorism by the ruling APC against our party. We shall soon be making our reports available to all diplomatic missions as well as the ECOWAS Court of Human Rights.”
The threat follows a gun attack in Edo State which the ADC described as an assassination attempt targeting Chief John Oyegun, former governor of Edo State and Chairman of the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee; Mr. Peter Obi, a national leader of the party; and Mr. Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party candidate for Edo State who recently joined the ADC. Abdullahi said: “The African Democratic Congress condemns, in the strongest possible terms, yesterday’s disturbing gun attack and assassination attempt in Edo State targeting Chief John Oyegun, former governor of Edo State and Chairman of the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee; Mr. Peter Obi, a national leader of our party; and Mr. Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party candidate for Edo State who recently joined the ADC.
“This was not an isolated incident. It bears the unmistakable marks of a dangerous and escalating pattern of political intimidation and terror against our party across the country. The resort to gunfire against lawful political actors represents an act of terrorism against the opposition, which has no place in a constitutional democracy.”
The party also accused Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo of making inflammatory remarks that worsened tensions, stating: “We are particularly alarmed by the pattern of inflammatory rhetoric and threats that have preceded these events, including the outrageous claim by Governor Okpebholo, who had earlier issued a threat that he would not guarantee the safety of Mr. Peter Obi should he visit Edo State.
“The governor has since gone ahead to make further ridiculous and irresponsible claims that the ADC is sponsoring cultism in Edo State, and threatened to start demolishing properties of the opposition in the State.
“Let it be said plainly: Nigeria is not a private estate. Edo State is not the personal property of any party or any governor. No elected official has the constitutional authority to threaten, harass, or endanger law-abiding political actors for exercising their democratic rights. Our members and supporters across Edo State and Nigeria have the constitutional right to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the right to lawful self-defence.”
The ADC reaffirmed that it would not be intimidated and urged its members and supporters nationwide to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding while continuing their political activities.
With reports from the Vanguard