By Achile Danjuma
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the disruption of a planned event by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Cross River State, calling the incident a direct assault on Nigeria’s democratic process.
In a statement released on Sunday via X (formerly Twitter), Obi described the Saturday attack on the ADC secretariat in the Bakassi Local Government Area by suspected political thugs as symptomatic of a troubling deterioration in the nation’s democratic standards.
“What occurred at the ADC office in Bakassi, Cross River State, is not merely an attack on a political party; it is an attack on democracy itself,” Obi said. “When thugs can storm a party office and destroy property without facing arrest, it reflects how dangerously low our democratic standards have fallen.”
The former Anambra State governor warned that the erosion of leadership standards and the tolerance of political misconduct could have severe consequences, potentially steering the country toward violence.
“In the current state of Nigeria, what can we expect when leadership standards have plummeted to the extent that qualification, certification, and credibility are no longer deemed necessary for public office?” he questioned. “The ability for individuals to present forged certificates for election sends a troubling message to our society. If we continue down this path, violence may become the future of our democracy.”
Obi further stressed that “fraud and violence cannot create true leadership; they will only result in chaos. This chaos will ultimately affect our children and us.”
The disruption occurred on Saturday as party supporters gathered for the inauguration of the new ADC secretariat. Reports indicate that a group of suspected political thugs stormed the venue, dispersing attendees and destroying property, including canopies, loudspeakers, chairs, and other equipment.
A widely circulated video on social media shows youths forcibly dismantling the event setup. In the footage, an individual believed to be leading the group is heard directing others to destroy the items, claiming the party was absent during the area’s development.
Confirming the incident, the Cross River State Police Command described the perpetrators as “hoodlums” and stated that officers were deployed to the area to restore order.
The Bakassi incident follows a similar event months prior, during which Obi and several ADC chieftains were allegedly attacked by suspected thugs in Benin City, Edo State.
That attack occurred shortly after Obi, former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, and other party figures departed the ADC secretariat, where they had welcomed Olumide Akpata—the 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate—into the ADC.
In the aftermath of the Edo incident, the Department of State Services (DSS) announced the arrest of a suspect, Udeme Sunday Stephen, believed to be connected to the attack.