The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has dismissed the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council’s (APC-PCC) condemnation of attacks on opposition gatherings, describing it as hypocritical, disdainful and an attempt to divert public attention.
Politics Nigeria reports that the ADC-PCC accused the ruling party of promoting political violence across the country.
It insisted that neither the APC nor the administration of President Bola Tinubu could escape responsibility for the growing attacks on opposition parties.
In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the council challenged the APC to take responsibility for its alleged actions and call its members to order.
It accused the ruling party of sponsoring and encouraging attacks on opposition members, alleging that APC supporters had repeatedly disrupted political gatherings, destroyed campaign materials and assaulted opposition supporters.
“The APC cannot pretend to be a victim of the very violence it has nurtured, funded and unleashed on Nigerians since it came to power.
“From Edo to Cross River, from Gombe to Lagos, the pattern is the same: APC thugs disrupt opposition gatherings, attack innocent supporters, destroy campaign materials and then rush to the press to shed crocodile tears.”
The ADC-PCC also accused APC governors of institutionalising political violence in their states through the denial of rally venues to opposition parties, demolition of opposition offices and physical attacks on their members.
It further alleged that opposition campaigns were being deliberately frustrated through restrictions on party posters, candidates’ billboards and public political activities, alongside the imposition of prohibitive fees.
The council specifically linked the disruption of Thursday’s scheduled town hall meeting of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Lagos to what it described as the APC’s established pattern of intimidation and political sabotage.
“The disruption of Thursday’s scheduled town hall meeting of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Lagos bears the unmistakable fingerprints of the APC.
“It is the same old script: orchestrate violence, intimidate the opposition, disrupt their activities and then issue public condemnations to cover up.”
The ADC-PCC maintained that opposition parties had continued to engage Nigerians on critical national issues, including hunger, insecurity, unemployment and corruption, while accusing the Tinubu administration of failing to address the country’s challenges.
It alleged that the APC, having little to offer Nigerians, had resorted to violence as a campaign strategy.
Questioning the ruling party’s sudden expression of concern over political violence, the council recalled alleged attacks on ADC members and supporters, including the destruction of party billboards, disruption of rallies and physical assaults.
“Where was the APC’s condemnation when our billboards were destroyed, our rallies disrupted and our members brutalised?
“Their sudden concern is not about peace; it is about diverting attention from their own atrocities.”
The council urged President Tinubu to heed the advice of elder statesman, Professor Jerry Gana, and demonstrate leadership by ensuring that political activities take place in an atmosphere of peace, tolerance and democratic freedom.
It also disclosed that the ADC was compiling records of attacks allegedly suffered by its members, adding that it would submit appropriate reports to relevant international judicial and human rights institutions.
The ADC-PCC consequently described the APC’s condemnation as hollow and self-serving, insisting that the statement was an attempt to distance the ruling party from the prevailing climate of political violence.
Reaffirming its commitment to peaceful campaigns, the council said alleged attacks and intimidation would not stop the party from mobilising Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The ADC remains committed to a peaceful, issue-based campaign. We will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced.
“No amount of APC-sponsored violence will stop Nigerians from voting for competence, integrity and a new beginning in 2027.”
Earlier, the APC-PCC had condemned the attack on the NDC town hall meeting in Lagos, calling on security agencies to arrest and prosecute those responsible.
The council also condemned reported attacks on political gatherings in Edo, Cross River and Gombe states.