• Super Admin
• 07 Mar, 2026

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the burning of its party secretariat in Ubima, Rivers State, describing the incident as a criminal attack on democracy and an escalation of political violence. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi on Friday, the party said the office was burnt down by suspected political thugs, warning that such actions threaten political tolerance and the constitutional rights of Nigerians to freely associate. "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 said. The opposition party alleged that the incident forms part of a pattern of intimidation against its members and supporters across the country. According to Abdullahi, ADC supporters were recently attacked during a political gathering, where some members were reportedly shot at, while several party offices had also faced harassment and vandalism in recent months. "This latest incident is part of a disturbing pattern of intimidation and violence against our party and its members. Just a few days ago, ADC members were shot at during a political gathering. This is also not the first time that our offices have been targeted," he stated. The party warned that the growing trend of violence in political competition must be halted to protect Nigeria's democracy. "Nigeria must not be turned into a zoo where violence, intimidation, and the destruction of political property become the tools of political competition," Abdullahi said. While reiterating the party's commitment to peaceful democratic engagement, he cautioned that ADC would take all lawful steps to protect its members and facilities. "Those who believe they can intimidate opposition parties through arson, violence, and criminal attacks should be reminded that those who choose violence should not assume others are incapable of defending themselves," he said. The party called on security agencies to launch an immediate investigation into the incident and ensure that those responsible, including sponsors of political violence, are brought to justice. "Anything short of this will embolden those who believe violence can silence political participation and weaken Nigeria's democracy," Abdullahi added. He stressed that the party remains undeterred despite the attack. "No amount of intimidation, arson, or destruction will weaken our commitment to building a democratic Nigeria founded on justice, fairness, and the rule of law," he said. Source: https://authorityngr.com/2026/03/07/adc-alleges-political-intimidation-as-thugs-burn-down-party-secretariat-in-rivers/