Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the disruption of the opening ceremony of a secretariat belonging to the African Democratic Congress in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State, describing the incident as a serious threat to democracy in Nigeria.
Obi made the condemnation on Sunday in a statement posted on his official account on X (formerly Twitter). The former governor of Anambra State said the attack by suspected political thugs showed a troubling decline in democratic values and political tolerance in the country.
“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.
The incident reportedly took place on Saturday during preparations for the official opening of the party’s local secretariat in Bakassi Local Government Area.
Witnesses and party members said a group of suspected political thugs stormed the venue of the ceremony and disrupted the event.
The attackers were reported to have scattered party supporters and damaged several items arranged for the ceremony. These included canopies, chairs, loudspeakers, and other equipment that had been set up for the opening of the office.
A video that circulated widely on social media showed several young men forcefully dismantling the event setup. In the footage, some individuals could be heard shouting that the ADC would not be allowed to operate in the area.
One man, believed to be leading the group, was heard instructing others to scatter the materials at the venue. He also claimed that the party had not been present in the area during previous development efforts.
The disruption forced organisers to halt the event as supporters fled the scene to avoid confrontation.
The Nigeria Police Force in Cross River confirmed the incident and described those responsible as hoodlums.
According to the state command, police officers were deployed to the area after receiving reports about the attack. Their presence helped restore order and prevent further damage or violence.
Authorities said investigations had begun to identify those involved in the incident.
Reacting to the development, Obi expressed concern about the growing level of intolerance and violence in Nigeria’s political space.
He said the fact that individuals could storm a political party office and destroy property without immediate arrest showed that the country’s democratic standards were under serious pressure.
“When thugs can storm a party office and destroy property without facing arrest, it reflects how dangerously low our democratic standards have fallen,” he said.
The former presidential candidate also warned that continued tolerance of political misconduct could lead to deeper problems for the country.
He noted that the erosion of leadership standards and weak enforcement of laws could encourage more acts of violence in the political system.
“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 said.
Obi also criticised what he described as declining standards in leadership selection and political accountability.
He said cases in which individuals allegedly present forged certificates during elections send negative signals to society.
According to him, allowing such practices to continue could damage public trust in the democratic system.
“The ability for individuals to present forged certificates for election sends a troubling message to our society,” Obi said.
“If we continue down this path, violence may become the future of our democracy.”
He added that leadership built on fraud and violence would only create instability and hardship for citizens.
“We must recognise that fraud and violence cannot create true leadership; they will only result in chaos,” he said.
“This chaos will ultimately affect our children and us.”
Nigeria operates a multi-party political system in which different political parties compete for power at national, state, and local government levels.
While the country has held several democratic elections since the return to civilian rule in 1999, political tensions and violence still occur in some areas.
The ADC, though smaller than some major political parties, has been working to expand its presence in several states ahead of future elections.
Opening local secretariats is one of the steps parties often take to strengthen their grassroots structures and attract new members.
The Bakassi incident comes months after a similar security concern involving Obi and other members of the ADC.
Earlier this year, Obi and some party chieftains were reportedly attacked by suspected thugs in Benin City.
The incident occurred shortly after Obi, alongside former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun, visited the ADC secretariat in the city.
During the visit, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, was formally welcomed into the ADC.
Shortly after the event, suspected thugs reportedly attacked the group, creating panic among supporters and political figures present.
The development drew widespread attention and raised concerns about the safety of political leaders and supporters during party activities.
Following the incident in Benin City, the Department of State Services announced that it had arrested a suspect believed to be connected to the attack.
Security authorities said investigations were ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the attack and whether others were involved.
In Nigeria’s democratic system, political parties have the legal right to organise meetings, open offices, and campaign for support in any part of the country.
Obi emphasized that democracy can only thrive when political actors respect the rights of others to participate freely in the political process.
He called on authorities and citizens to work together to protect democratic values and prevent violence in the political space.
For many Nigerians, the incident in Bakassi is another reminder of the challenges facing the country’s democracy as political parties continue to prepare for future elections.
