The African Democratic Congress (ADC) resolved to file a suit against the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) court of human rights over Tuesday’s attack on Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, and other chieftains of the party in Benin, the Edo State capital.
Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, in a post shared on X on Tuesday, said Obi and some ADC figures were attacked at the residence of John Odigie-Oyegun, a chieftain of the party.
Tanko said the incident occurred shortly after they returned from the ADC secretariat, where they formally welcomed Olumide Akpata, the 2023 LP governorship candidate for Edo State, into the party.
Reacting to the incident, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, described the attack as part of an escalating pattern of political intimidation against opposition figures across the country.
In a statement shared via X on Wednesday, Abdullahi said the attack indicated an act of terrorism against the opposition figures, saying the party would report the matter to all diplomatic missions in the West Africa sub-region.
The ADC spokesperson also raised alarm over what he called inflammatory rhetoric and threats preceding the incident, accusing Governor Monday Okpebholo, of Edo State of making statements “capable of heightening tensions and triggering a breakdown of law and order”.
Abdullahi alleged that the Governor had earlier said he could not guarantee the safety of Obi if he visited Edo State and had since made further claims accusing the party of sponsoring cultism while threatening to demolish properties belonging to opposition members in the State.
Read the statement: “Let it be said plainly: Nigeria is not a private estate. Edo State is not the personal property of any party or any Governor.
“We are compiling all cases of acts of terrorism by the ruling APC against our party. We shall soon be making our reports available to all diplomatic missions as well as the ECOWAS Court of Human Rights”.
He stressed that no elected official had the constitutional authority to threaten, harass or endanger law-abiding political actors, insisting that ADC members and supporters across Edo State and Nigeria were entitled to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and lawful self-defence.
Abdullahi warned that if any harm came to the party leaders, members or supporters as a result of what he described as a growing climate of official hostility, intimidation or incitement, responsibility will rest with those stoking the tension.
He declared that the opposition party would not bow to intimidation, vowing to take all lawful measures to protect members and facilities nationwide while urging supporters to remain vigilant and continue their lawful activities without fear.
