By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused, President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of remaining silent in the face of escalating attacks, intimidation and disruption of opposition political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party also accused the Nigerian Police of failing to adequately protect opposition members and demanded public accounts of investigations into reported incidents of political violence.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja at the party’s National headquarters on Monday, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party had documented incidents involving attacks on political meetings, destruction of party property, assault on participants and threats against citizens because of their political affiliations.
He said the incidents, which the party claimed occurred between July 2025 and September 2026, had been recorded in states including Kaduna, Kebbi, Ekiti, Cross River, Rivers, Edo, Osun, Kogi and Enugu.
Abdullahi said the circumstances and responsibility for the incidents had not been conclusively established in every case but argued that their reported frequency and the response of law enforcement agencies raised concerns about the conditions under which the 2027 elections would be conducted.
He said the party was particularly concerned about what he described as the failure of relevant authorities to provide updates on investigations into previous attacks.
According to him, an attack on the ADC secretariat in Benin City, Edo State, in February, as well as reported gunshots at the residence of former Edo State governor and former APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, during a political gathering, had yet to result in publicly known arrests or prosecutions.
Abdullahi said the Edo State Police Command had confirmed the attack on the ADC secretariat and announced an investigation but alleged that no publicly known conclusion had emerged from the process.
He also cited a recent incident in Rivers State, where he alleged that ADC members preparing for a political meeting in Community Ward One, Odua Local Government Area, were attacked, resulting in the death of a party member identified as Kamadiyoi.
The spokesman said the incident had been reported to the police and called for investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
He also referred to alleged attacks on opposition gatherings in Enugu and Kogi states, claiming that some ADC members were injured in the incidents.
Abdullahi said the party expected security agencies to investigate allegations against both private individuals and any public officials found to have facilitated or failed to prevent attacks.
“What we are saying is that a record of repeated violence against lawful political activity demands serious government response, which we are not seeing,” he said.
The ADC spokesman questioned whether the apparent lack of effective response meant that the government was unable to prevent political violence or was tolerating it.
He also criticised what he described as threatening rhetoric from some members and supporters of the ruling party, citing several statements attributed to APC-linked political figures.
Abdullahi said the party had taken note of subsequent explanations or apologies in some cases but argued that security authorities should establish whether any such statements amounted to threats or incitement.
He said the ADC was not calling for retaliation, stressing that the party had instructed its candidates and members to avoid violence, hate speech and rhetoric capable of deepening ethnic or religious divisions.
“We are not crying out. ADC is not even saying, ‘Please help us’. ADC is putting records straight that this cannot continue,” he said.
He nevertheless warned that continued attacks without visible accountability could increase tensions and make it more difficult for political parties to restrain their supporters.
The ADC also queried the neutrality of INEC, arguing that the electoral commission had a responsibility to speak out when political parties were allegedly being prevented from freely organising and campaigning.
Asked specifically about the Commission’s role, Abdullahi said the party was interested in INEC’s response because the commission had responsibility for conducting elections that should meet standards of fairness.
“If we are concerned, INEC will be concerned because if you are an electoral umpire and you have promised to deliver free and fair election, and the table is being turned against a participant in the election, then you cannot claim to be fair,” he said.
He described what he considered INEC’s silence as potentially problematic, arguing that electoral integrity should not be assessed only on election day.
The ADC spokesman said the conditions under which political parties organise, hold meetings, advertise candidates and mobilise supporters before election day should also form part of any assessment of whether the electoral process is genuinely competitive.
He called on the Inspector-General of Police to provide public updates on investigations into reported incidents of political violence.
“People have been killed, people have been maimed, properties have been burned and destroyed. Police say they are investigating, so we want to know the status of the investigations they have conducted,” Abdullahi said.
The party said it was maintaining a central record of reported incidents, including dates, locations, witness accounts, photographic and video evidence, medical documentation and records of complaints submitted to security agencies.
Abdullahi said the ADC would pursue the matter through lawful channels, including petitions to relevant authorities and judicial remedies where appropriate.
He also said the party would engage institutions including the National Human Rights Commission, ECOWAS and African Union bodies, as well as civil society organisations, where necessary.
On skewed campaign environment, The ADC raised concerns about what it described as unequal access to campaign advertising, particularly billboards in Abuja.
Abdullahi alleged that the dominance of APC-related billboards in the Federal Capital Territory and high charges for political advertising in some states could restrict opposition parties’ ability to communicate with voters.
He argued that electoral fairness should encompass the period preceding polling, including the ability of parties to hold meetings, campaign and communicate their programmes.
“The election is not free and fair if opposition parties cannot campaign freely, if the opposition parties cannot hold their meetings freely, if we cannot advertise our candidates and our political party,” he said.
He called on Nigeria’s international partners and election observers to examine the broader political environment rather than focusing exclusively on events on election day.
The ADC also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to publicly clarify remarks that the party said had been interpreted by some ruling-party supporters as justification for aggressive political conduct.
Abdullahi said the President had a constitutional responsibility to protect Nigerians irrespective of their political affiliations.
He stressed that the ADC remained committed to non-violence and said National Chairman Senator David Mark had directed all party candidates to avoid divisive rhetoric.
Responding to a question on whether ADC members could eventually be directed to defend themselves if attacks continued, Abdullahi said the party was approaching a critical point but remained committed to maintaining peace.
“We are getting close. We are getting close. We will do whatever it takes to protect the peace,” he said.
He argued that continued failure by security agencies to protect citizens could create conditions in which individuals resort to self-help.
The spokesman said the party would continue to restrain its members but warned that political parties could not indefinitely ask their supporters to tolerate attacks without visible institutional protection.
On the proposed state police system, Abdullahi said the party was monitoring developments in the National Assembly, expressing concern that state-controlled security structures could potentially be used against opposition parties.
He said the ADC was not opposed to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture but wanted safeguards against political misuse.
The party also reiterated that it would pursue its complaints through legal and constitutional channels rather than retaliatory violence.
Abdullahi said the ADC’s central demand was for existing laws protecting citizens’ political rights to be enforced.
“We are not making any demands. That’s all we are asking for,” he said. “We are asking for the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to be enforced.”
He warned that continued attacks on opposition members could undermine confidence in the electoral process and called on the government, APC, police and INEC to take steps to ensure that all political parties can participate without intimidation ahead of the 2027 elections.
