The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has resorted to political intimidation and violence, fueled by the fear of its growing popularity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Recall that thugs had reportedly invaded and disrupted a meeting of ADC stakeholders in Kaduna last week.

Similarly, a gathering of ADC leaders in Lagos at the weekend descended into chaos after suspected thugs attacked participants and disrupted the meeting.

The violent incident coincided with the formal defection of Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Lagos, to the ADC.

It was reported that a good number of political thugs had stormed the venue in Alimosho, where Rhodes-Vivour was to be unveiled as a new member of the ADC, following the sealing off of the original venue, Lion Field, by security operatives.

The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement yesterday, said the Lagos attack is consistent with the “growing authoritarian temper” that the ruling party has demonstrated against the opposition in recent weeks.

The ADC said, “APC is really scared of the growing popularity of the ADC across the country, and it appears that the only response that they have is physical assaults and intimidation.

“It started in Edo with a warning to ADC leaders not to visit the state, followed by Kogi, and then the shutting down of a private radio station in Niger, before it escalated to sponsored attacks on peaceful meetings in Kaduna, followed by attacks on convoys of ADC leaders in Kebbi.

“Saturday’s invasion of a Church, the venue of an ADC event in Alimosho, Lagos State, is a new low — showing that the APC respects nothing and holds nothing sacred, not even a Church. Under the APC, the Nigeria Police Force is being turned to the Gestapo wing of the ruling party.

“With this attack on a Church, no one can predict how far this APC under President Tinubu is willing to go in its desperate quest to hold on to power at all costs.

“Now, APC-sponsored thugs have gone so far as attacking Church premises. 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 organization? After all, attacking places of worship is what terrorists do.”

The ADC, however, threatened that “we will not fold our arms while our leaders are attacked and our gatherings are turned into battlegrounds. This must stop. And it must stop now.”

But reacting, the APC National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, dismissed the claims, saying the ruling party has no hand in the reported disruptions. He also said the ADC is not a threat to the APC, stressing that the ruling party does not and will not resort to violence in any form. (Daily Trust)