Widespread condemnations have trailed the violent attack on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secretariat in Ado Ekiti, where hoodlums reportedly set the building ablaze and assaulted party members on Tuesday.
ADC governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Apostle Ayodele David-Adesua, described the incident as a “barbaric act of political cowardice and intimidation.”
In a statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, October 22, he said, “I strongly condemn the barbaric burning of the newly established ADC Secretariat – a desperate act of political cowardice and intimidation.”
The ADC secretariat was reportedly vandalised during the inauguration of the party’s executives across all levels. According to David-Adesua, the attack was not merely on a structure but on the democratic aspirations of Ekiti people.
“This attack is not merely against a building, but against the democratic will of Ekiti people who seek freedom from tyranny and misrule,” he said.
“Let it be clear, no amount of destruction or deceit will break our resolve. From these ashes, we shall ‘Rescue, Rebuild, and Rise’ stronger, bolder, and more united.”
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He vowed that the ADC would not be intimidated, adding that the party’s movement remained people-driven and divinely anchored.
“We will not be deterred by agents of oppression or internal saboteurs who hide behind chaos to cover their failures. We will confront corruption with courage, tyranny with truth, and fear with faith,” he said.
Former Minister of Interior and ADC National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, also condemned the incident, calling it “a shameful display of intolerance and a dangerous threat to democracy.”
“It is regrettable that individuals who emerged through the democratic process can resort to violence and intimidation to suppress opposition voices,” Aregbesola said.
“The beauty of democracy lies in the freedom of association and participation in open political activities without fear or intimidation. The attack on ADC members in Ekiti signals descent into fascism.”
Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Police Command has launched a high-scale investigation into the attack, assuring that those responsible will be brought to justice.