National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Rauf Aregbesola, and former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, have condemned the attack and burning of the party’s secretariat in Ado Ekiti, describing it as a threat to democracy and political tolerance.
DAILY POST reports that residents and ADC members woke up on Tuesday to find the secretariat razed, with office equipment, plastic chairs, canopies, and sound systems destroyed.
Hours later, suspected hoodlums were said to have regrouped and invaded the venue of the party’s planned affirmation ceremony, attacking members, vandalising vehicles and motorcycles, and scattering arrangements for the event.
Reacting to the incident, Aregbesola, who arrived at the venue shortly after the attackers fled, described the incident as a shameful display of intolerance and a dangerous signal for democracy.
“It is regrettable that individuals who emerged through democratic processes can resort to violence and intimidation to suppress opposition voices. The attack on ADC members in Ekiti signals a descent into fascism,” Aregbesola said.
The former Interior Minister also faulted security agencies for failing to protect the party’s members and property, saying such negligence violates the constitution.
In the same vein, Olusola-Eleka described the incident as political terrorism, lamenting that the police failed to act swiftly despite early reports of the midnight attack.
“We are let down by the security agencies because more than two hours after we reported the incident, no officer came to secure the premises,” he said.
On his part, Ekiti ADC Chairman, Ilesanmi Omolayo, said several members were injured during the attack and were receiving treatment in hospitals.
He alleged that the assault was an attempt to intimidate the party over its growing popularity.
Also reacting, ADC governorship aspirant and former High Commissioner to Canada, Dare Bejide, condemned the attack as barbaric, saying those behind it were enemies of democracy.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, confirmed the incident, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, had ordered a full-scale investigation to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.