The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of sponsoring political violence after an attack on its members at a church in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.
According to the ADC, the incident occurred during a gathering attended by party leaders, including Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who formally declared his membership of the party.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC alleged that thugs loyal to the APC stormed the church premises, leaving several people injured, destroying vehicles, and carting away property.
“The invasion of a church premises by government-backed political thugs is a profound act of desecration by a jittery ruling party who would stop at nothing to silence opposition voices in the country,” Abdullahi said.
The party described the Lagos attack as part of a broader pattern of intimidation, citing threats to its leaders in Edo, harassment in Kogi, the shutdown of a private radio station in Niger, disruptions of meetings in Kaduna, and assaults on convoys in Kebbi.
The ADC further claimed that a Canadian court had recently declared the APC a terrorist organisation, adding that the ruling party’s alleged actions only reinforced that perception.
“If churches and other places of worship are no longer regarded as inviolable by the APC goons, how then does the party intend to prove to the world that it is not indeed a terrorist organisation? After all, attacking places of worship is what terrorists do,” Abdullahi added.
The opposition party urged the Nigeria Police Force not to act as an extension of the ruling party, but instead ensure the arrest and prosecution of those behind the Lagos violence and other attacks nationwide.
“The police have a duty to ensure that justice is served swiftly and transparently to the perpetrators of the attack in Lagos, Kaduna, Kebbi, and all other states where ADC leaders have been threatened and assaulted. Nigerians are watching, and the credibility of our institutions is on trial before the whole world,” the statement read.
While condemning the attack, the ADC vowed to continue engaging Nigerians peacefully but warned that it would not remain passive in the face of what it described as “dictatorship tactics.”
“The APC’s resort to violence and intimidation is a glaring confession of its failure. Rather than present a track record of achievements to Nigerians, the APC wants to bulldoze its way into another election season by eliminating opposition. This is the mark of dictatorship,” it said.
The party insisted that despite provocations, it would not be deterred from its political engagements.
