Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the violent disruption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secretariat opening in Bakassi Local Government Area, Cross River State, describing the incident as an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process.
The event, held on Saturday, was reportedly disrupted by suspected political thugs believed to be loyal to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Witnesses said the attackers stormed the venue, chased away party supporters and destroyed canopies, chairs, loudspeakers and other equipment prepared for the ceremony.
A video circulating on social media showed the group dismantling the event setup while shouting that the ADC would not be allowed to operate in the area.
Confirming the incident, the Cross River State Police Command said officers were deployed to restore order after hoodlums disrupted the gathering. Police spokesperson Sunday Eitokpah stated that the attackers appeared suddenly and scattered the event materials before security operatives intervened.
According to him, the situation has been brought under control, though no arrests had been made at the time due to the tense environment in the area.
Reacting to the development in a statement shared on social media, Obi described the attack as a worrying sign of declining democratic values in Nigeria. He warned that allowing political violence to go unchecked could threaten the country’s democratic future.
The former Anambra State governor also expressed concern about what he described as declining leadership standards, warning that tolerating questionable credentials in public office could further encourage violence in politics.
The incident has sparked renewed concerns among political observers and civil society groups over the safety of opposition parties ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.