The African Democratic Congress has branded the ruling All Progressives Congress a terrorist organisation following the alleged gun attack on its leaders in Edo State, announcing plans to report what it described as a pattern of political terrorism to the ECOWAS Court of Human Rights and diplomatic missions.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, on Wednesday, February 25, the ADC said the attack on former Edo State Governor Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, party leader Peter Obi, and newly decamped member Olumide Akpata was not an isolated incident but part of a systematic campaign of intimidation against the opposition.
“This was not an isolated incident. It bears the unmistakable marks of a dangerous and escalating pattern of political intimidation and terror against our party across the country,” the statement read.
“The resort to gunfire against lawful political actors represents an act of terrorism against the opposition, which has no place in a constitutional democracy,” the ADC said.
The party directed sharp criticism at Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, accusing him of creating the atmosphere that led to the attack through inflammatory statements and threats.
“We are particularly alarmed by the pattern of inflammatory rhetoric and threats that have preceded these events, including the outrageous claim by the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, who had earlier issued a threat that he would not guarantee the safety of Mr. Peter Obi should he visit Edo State,” the statement said.
“The Governor has since gone ahead to make further ridiculous and irresponsible claims that the ADC is sponsoring cultism in Edo State and has threatened to start demolishing properties of the opposition in the State,” it added.
The ADC insisted that no government or governor had the right to threaten opposition figures for exercising their democratic rights.
“Let it be said plainly: Nigeria is not a private estate. Edo State is not the personal property of any party or any governor. No elected official has the constitutional authority to threaten, harass, or endanger law-abiding political actors for exercising their democratic rights,” the party said.
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“Our members and supporters across Edo State and Nigeria have the constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and lawful self-defence,” it added.
The party issued a stark warning to the federal and Edo State governments about the consequences of continued hostility toward the opposition.
“If any harm comes to our leaders, members, or supporters as a result of this escalating climate of official hostility, intimidation, or incitement, the responsibility for whatever consequences follow will rest squarely with those who choose the path of provocation over the path of peace,” the ADC said.
The party announced that it was compiling evidence of what it described as acts of terrorism by the APC against its members.
“We are compiling all cases of acts of terrorism by the ruling APC against our party. We shall soon be making our reports available to all diplomatic missions as well as the ECOWAS Court of Human Rights,” the statement read.
The ADC vowed not to be intimidated, urging its members across the country to remain vigilant and go about their lawful activities without fear.
“Let no one be left in doubt: regardless of the level of intimidation, ADC will not bow to terror and will take all lawful means to protect its members and facilities across the country,” the party concluded.
The statement comes amid a war of words between the ADC and the Edo State government over Tuesday’s incident in Benin City, where armed individuals allegedly trailed Obi and other party leaders from the ADC secretariat to Odigie-Oyegun’s residence during political activities surrounding Akpata’s formal declaration as a member of the party.
Governor Okpebholo condemned the violence but attributed it to internal party conflict, a characterisation the ADC has firmly rejected.