The African Democratic Congress, ADC, Presidential Campaign Council has condemned what it described as a sustained, coordinated and state-sponsored assault on democracy, freedom of association and the constitutional right of Nigerians to political participation under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The opposition party said the unfolding incidents across the country went beyond ordinary political rivalry, alleging that they represented a disturbing pattern of intimidation, harassment and suppression of opposition voices which can scare Nigerians ahead of the general election.
ADC, in a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Presidential Campaign Council, Kola Ologbondiyan, recalled a series of alleged recent incidents, including attacks on opposition leaders and members in Kaduna, Sokoto and other parts of the country.
Ologbondiyan also cited the reported demolition of its governorship campaign office in Kebbi State and the alleged denial of a campaign venue in Enugu State to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The spokesperson further referenced the reported attacks on the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, and other opposition voices, describing the incidents as part of what it called an emerging pattern of political intolerance.
According to the ADC-PCC, the alleged attacks, denial of campaign venues, arrests, harassment and intimidation of opposition figures raise serious concerns about the state of democratic freedoms and political pluralism in Nigeria.
The party maintained that no government, regardless of its political or institutional strength, could successfully suppress the democratic aspirations of Nigerians, recalling that popular resistance contributed to the collapse of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third-term agenda.
ADC also argued that President Tinubu and the APC enjoyed the benefits of political participation and opposition politics when they were outside government, insisting that those same democratic freedoms must be guaranteed to all political parties and their members.
The opposition ADC expressed concern over the continued detention of its PCC Vice Chairman and former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that he was being unlawfully held and denied his right to bail.
The campaign council further alleged that financial inducements were being deployed to compromise individuals and weaken opposition ranks, but insisted that Nigerians will not surrender their constitutional rights for monetary or material benefits.
It however called on Nigerians to remain committed to defending democratic values, freedom of association and the right to political choice, regardless of political affiliation.
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Editor: Terverr Tyav
