ADO-EKITI, Nigeria – The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned the burning of its Ekiti State office in Ado-Ekiti, describing the attack as a politically motivated act of intimidation aimed at silencing opposition voices ahead of the state’s upcoming governorship election.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party revealed that the fire occurred just hours before a planned “Reconfiguration and Affirmation Ceremony,” which it said would go ahead despite the attack.
“This was a criminal and undemocratic act, a disgrace to anyone who claims to believe in democracy and political freedom,” Abdullahi said.
The party blamed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for orchestrating the attack, alleging it was part of a broader campaign to intimidate the opposition due to the growing popularity of the ADC across the country.
READ ALSO: ADC’s Abdullahi criticises cancellation of Independence parade as sign of presidential disconnect
“The fire in Ekiti is further confirmation that the APC is afraid of the rising wave of the ADC,” Abdullahi stated, adding that Nigerians were increasingly embracing the party as an alternative to what he described as the failures of the current administration.
The ADC pointed out that the Ekiti incident is part of a worrying trend, noting that its members and facilities had faced similar attacks in Kaduna, Lagos, Kebbi, Kogi, and Edo States since the Opposition Coalition endorsed ADC as its preferred political platform in July.
“This dangerous pattern should worry everyone. It shows that the ruling party is not willing to compete fairly,” Abdullahi warned.
The party also criticised security agencies and government officials for their silence, accusing them of failing to protect democratic institutions and opposition voices.
“A government that ignores attacks on opposition parties is inviting chaos,” the statement added.
The ADC called on security agencies to launch a thorough investigation into the Ekiti fire and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. It also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organisations, and international observers to monitor the situation closely ahead of the election.
Despite the incident, the ADC maintained that the scheduled ceremony in Ekiti would proceed as planned, even if it had to be held outdoors.
“Violence will not stop the ADC. We will not be silenced,” Abdullahi affirmed.
