African Democratic Congress denounces torching of its state headquarters in Rivers

The African Democratic Congress has pledged to take all necessary lawful measures to safeguard its members and facilities in the wake of the arson attack on its party secretariat in Ubima, Rivers State, which it views as a perilous escalation of political violence.

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According to ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party strongly condemns the incident, which it alleges was perpetrated by thugs loyal to the ruling All Progressives Congress, and is calling for a prompt investigation by security agencies to bring the culprits to justice.

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The party remains committed to peaceful democratic participation, but warns that its calm demeanor should not be misconstrued as a sign of weakness, emphasizing that it will pursue all lawful avenues to protect its members and property.

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In a statement, the African Democratic Congress denounced the attack on its Ubima secretariat, which was torched by thugs allegedly affiliated with the ruling party, as a blatant assault on democracy, political tolerance, and the constitutional rights of Nigerians to associate and participate in the democratic process.

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The party views this incident as part of a disturbing trend of intimidation and violence against its members, citing a recent incident where ADC members were shot at during a political gathering, as well as previous attacks on its offices in several locations.

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The ADC is urging an immediate cessation of this brand of politics, emphasizing that Nigeria must not be allowed to degenerate into a state of chaos where violence and intimidation become the hallmarks of political competition.

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The party cautioned those using arson and violence to intimidate opposition parties that they should not assume others are incapable of defending themselves, emphasizing that the ADC will take all necessary lawful steps to protect its members and facilities nationwide.

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While reaffirming its commitment to peaceful and law-abiding democratic engagement, the ADC warned that it will not stand idly by and allow its members, supporters, and facilities to become easy targets for political thuggery.

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The party is calling on security agencies to promptly investigate the attack, identify and apprehend the perpetrators, and ensure that those who sponsor or enable political violence are brought to justice, warning that anything less would embolden those who believe violence can silence political participation.

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The ADC remains resolute and undeterred, emphasizing that no amount of intimidation, arson, or destruction will weaken its commitment to building a democratic Nigeria founded on justice, fairness, and the rule of law.

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The party emphasized that Nigeria belongs to all its citizens, and that collective action is necessary to reject violence and defend the sanctity of democracy.