The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of promoting political violence against opposition parties, describing the ruling party’s condemnation of attacks on political gatherings as hypocritical and an attempt to divert public attention.
Politics Nigeria reports that the ADC-PCC insisted that neither the APC nor President Bola Tinubu’s administration could escape responsibility for the growing attacks on opposition activities across the country.
In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the council challenged the ruling party to take responsibility for its alleged actions and call its supporters to order.
The ADC-PCC accused APC supporters of repeatedly disrupting opposition gatherings, destroying campaign materials and physically assaulting opposition members.
According to the council, the alleged attacks have followed a similar pattern in several states, including Edo, Cross River, Gombe and Lagos.
“The APC cannot pretend to be a victim of the very violence it has nurtured, funded and unleashed on Nigerians since it came to power,” the statement said.
The opposition campaign council further accused APC governors of institutionalising political violence by allegedly denying opposition parties access to rally venues, demolishing their offices and allowing physical attacks on their members.
It also alleged that opposition activities were being deliberately frustrated through restrictions on campaign posters, candidates’ billboards and public political gatherings, as well as the imposition of excessive fees.
ADC Links Lagos NDC Town Hall Disruption to APC
The ADC-PCC specifically linked the disruption of Thursday’s scheduled town hall meeting of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Lagos to what it described as an established pattern of political intimidation and sabotage by the ruling party.
The council alleged that the incident reflected the APC’s approach to suppressing opposition activities while attempting to portray itself as an advocate of political peace.
“The disruption of Thursday’s scheduled town hall meeting of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Lagos bears the unmistakable fingerprints of the APC,” it stated.
The council added that the ruling party allegedly orchestrated violence against opposition groups before issuing public condemnations to distance itself from the incidents.
ADC Accuses Tinubu Government of Failing Nigerians
The opposition council maintained that political parties outside the ruling APC had continued engaging Nigerians on pressing national issues, including hunger, insecurity, unemployment and corruption.
However, it accused the Tinubu administration of failing to adequately address the country’s challenges, alleging that the APC had resorted to political violence because it had little to offer Nigerians.
The ADC-PCC also questioned the ruling party’s sudden expression of concern over attacks on political gatherings.
It recalled alleged incidents involving the destruction of ADC billboards, disruption of party rallies and physical assaults on its members, asking why the APC had not condemned those incidents.
“Where was the APC’s condemnation when our billboards were destroyed, our rallies disrupted and our members brutalised?
“Their sudden concern is not about peace; it is about diverting attention from their own atrocities,” the council added.
ADC Calls on Tinubu to Ensure Peaceful Political Activities
The ADC-PCC urged President Tinubu to heed the advice of elder statesman Professor Jerry Gana and demonstrate leadership by ensuring that political activities across the country take place in an atmosphere of peace, tolerance and democratic freedom.
It also disclosed that the party was compiling records of attacks allegedly suffered by its members.
According to the council, the records would be submitted to relevant international judicial and human rights institutions for appropriate action.
The ADC-PCC consequently dismissed the APC’s condemnation of political violence as hollow and self-serving, insisting that the ruling party was attempting to distance itself from the prevailing climate of political hostility.
ADC Reaffirms Commitment to 2027 Elections
Despite the alleged attacks and intimidation, the ADC-PCC reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful and issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The council said it would continue mobilising Nigerians and engaging voters on issues affecting the country, insisting that alleged acts of intimidation would not weaken its political activities.
“The ADC remains committed to a peaceful, issue-based campaign. We will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced.
“No amount of APC-sponsored violence will stop Nigerians from voting for competence, integrity and a new beginning in 2027,” the statement concluded.
The council also condemned reported attacks on political gatherings in Edo, Cross River and Gombe states, calling for an environment where opposition parties can freely exercise their democratic rights.