By Our Correspondent
National News – Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the disruption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secretariat opening in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State, describing the incident as a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Obi reacted on Sunday after suspected political thugs reportedly attacked the venue of the ADC office inauguration in the Bakassi council area.
According to reports, the attackers stormed the event location, scattered supporters and destroyed property arranged for the ceremony.
Items such as canopies, chairs, loudspeakers, and other equipment prepared for the party’s secretariat opening were vandalised during the disruption.
In a statement shared on social media, Obi described the attack as more than just an assault on a political party, warning that it reflects a worrying decline in democratic values and political tolerance in Nigeria.
“What happened at the ADC office in Bakassi is not merely an attack on a political party. It is an attack on democracy itself,” Obi stated.
The former governor of Anambra State further expressed concern that political violence and the failure to hold perpetrators accountable could weaken democratic institutions across the country.
Obi also warned that declining leadership standards and tolerance of electoral misconduct could push the nation toward instability.
He argued that when individuals with questionable credentials or allegations of forged certificates are allowed to seek public office without consequences, it sends a dangerous signal to society.
“If we continue down this path, violence may become the future of our democracy,” Obi warned, stressing that fraud and intimidation cannot produce genuine leadership.
A video circulating online from the incident showed a group of youths dismantling the event setup while shouting that the ADC would not be allowed to operate in the local government area.
Officials of the Nigeria Police Force in Cross River confirmed the incident and described the attackers as hoodlums.
Police authorities said officers were deployed to restore calm and maintain order in the area.
The Bakassi incident comes months after Obi and several ADC leaders were reportedly attacked by suspected political thugs in Benin City following a party meeting that welcomed prominent figures into the party.
Security agencies later arrested a suspect linked to that earlier attack, highlighting ongoing concerns about political violence ahead of future elections.
