Dare Babalola
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the violent invasion of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Secretariat in Abuja, describing it as a brazen attack on Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi on Tuesday, the ADC described the incident as a “dangerous assault on Nigeria’s democracy” and warned that it sets a worrying precedent for the country’s democratic future.
The party alleged that the attack was orchestrated by agents of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government, and accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of having “anti-democratic credentials”.
The ADC expressed concern that the attack on the PDP headquarters could be a precursor to further attacks on other organisations and opposition groups, and called on Nigerians and the international community to take note of the situation.
The party demanded an independent investigation into the role of the Nigerian Police and other security forces in the incident, and called on President Tinubu to rein in his political operatives.
The statement read partly, “If the government could send armed agents to enforce factional control of an opposition headquarters, what stops it from doing the same to labour unions, press organisations, student movements, or peaceful protest groups?”
“The ADC views this attack as a clear manifestation of the ruling party’s desperation to clove to power and its willingness to do anything to suppress opposition voices,” the statement added.
The party further stated, “We urge all Nigerians to remain vigilant and defend our democracy against these blatant attempts to undermine it. The ADC will continue to champion the cause of democracy and good governance, and will not be intimidated by these actions.”
The ADC views the attack as part of a larger effort by the ruling party to destabilise opposition parties and undermine Nigeria’s multiparty democracy, and warned that it sets a “dangerous background for the 2027 general elections”.
