Monday September 21, 2026
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised the alarm over alleged escalating political violence against opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that continued attacks on its members could push the party towards a difficult decision on how to protect its supporters.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, gave the warning on Monday, September 21, at a press conference in Abuja, where he demanded that the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, publicly account for investigations into reported attacks on opposition meetings, members and facilities across the country.
Abdullahi said the ADC had documented incidents involving political violence, intimidation, destruction of party property and attacks on its members in several states between July 2025 and September 2026.
He listed Kaduna, Kebbi, Ekiti, Cross River, Rivers, Edo, Osun, Kogi and Enugu among the states where the party had recorded incidents.
He said the growing frequency of such incidents, coupled with what he described as inadequate responses from security agencies, was raising serious questions about the conditions under which the 2027 elections would be conducted.
“The Nigerian Police is not APC police; it is the police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Abdullahi said, insisting that all political parties must be allowed to organise meetings, campaign and conduct lawful activities without intimidation.
He cited the February attack on the ADC secretariat in Benin City, Edo State, as well as the reported attack at the residence of former Edo governor and former APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun.
According to him, despite the police announcing investigations into the incidents, the party was yet to be informed of any arrest, prosecution or outcome.
He also alleged that an ADC member, identified as Kamadiyoi, was killed three days ago when party members preparing for a political meeting in Community Ward One, Odua Local Government Area of Rivers State, were attacked.
Similar attacks, he said, had been reported in Enugu and Kogi, with several members allegedly injured.
Abdullahi called on the Inspector-General of Police to provide a public account of investigations into the incidents.
“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,” he said.
Responding to a question on whether state police could help curb violence against opposition parties, Abdullahi said the ADC was closely monitoring the development, particularly proposals to establish state-controlled police structures.
He said the party was concerned that state police could potentially be “weaponized” against opposition parties if adequate safeguards were not put in place.
“We have the concern that you have, and all along, the argument against state police is not that we don’t need state police to strengthen Nigeria’s security system, it is that the state police can be weaponized against opposition political parties,” he said.
According to him, ADC lawmakers in the National Assembly were monitoring the legislative process and would announce the party’s position when appropriate.
“If that is going to be a fulfilled promise under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we shall all see. But we are ready for that. We are conscious of it, and we are ready for it,” he said.
The ADC spokesman also said the opposition party had a responsibility to help reduce political tension and had imposed strict rules on its members against violence and inflammatory rhetoric.
“For us as a party, we’ve told all our members that as long as you are in ADC, you cannot engage in violence and you cannot make statements and rhetoric that promote violence or divisions along ethnic and religious lines,” he said.
Abdullahi said the party’s position was clearly stated in its policy document, popularly known as the Orange Book, which, according to him, commits the ADC to rejecting violence in all forms.
He said the party’s demand for accountability from the government was based on the same standards it applied to itself.
“We even hold ourselves to higher standards, and we believe that that’s what gives us the moral standing to demand what we are demanding.
“What are we asking for? We are asking for the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to be enforced. That’s all we are asking for,” he said.
However, Abdullahi appeared to issue the strongest warning when asked at what point the ADC would direct its members to defend themselves against further attacks, adding, “we are getting close. We are getting close.”
He maintained that the party would continue to work to preserve peace and restrain its members, but warned that the ability of party leaders to control their supporters depended partly on whether members believed the party was standing up for them.
He said: “We will do whatever it takes to protect the peace. We will do whatever it takes to keep our members under control.
“But the only way we can guarantee that when we talk to them, they will listen is that they see that we are standing up for them, that we are fighting for them, and that we can actually fight for them.”
According to him, failure by security agencies to protect opposition members could encourage people to resort to self-help.