Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the disruption of the African Democratic Congress secretariat opening in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State, describing the incident as “an attack on democracy itself.”
Obi made the statement on Sunday in a post shared on X, where he expressed concern over what he described as a decline in democratic values in Nigeria.
According to him, the reported attack by suspected political thugs highlights the deteriorating standard of democratic conduct 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.
“When thugs can storm a party office and destroy property without facing arrest, it reflects how dangerously low our democratic standards have fallen,” he added.
The former governor of Anambra State warned that declining leadership standards and tolerance for political misconduct could push the nation toward violence.
“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 asked.
Obi further criticised the trend of individuals allegedly presenting forged certificates during elections, warning that such practices send the wrong message to society.
“If we continue down this path, violence may become the future of our democracy,” he said, adding that fraud and violence cannot produce credible leadership.
The incident occurred on Saturday during the planned opening of an ADC secretariat in Bakassi, where suspected thugs reportedly stormed the venue, disrupting the event.
Eyewitness reports indicated that the attackers scattered party supporters and destroyed canopies, loudspeakers, chairs and other equipment arranged for the ceremony.
A video circulating on social media showed a group of youths dismantling the event setup while shouting that the party would not be allowed to operate in the area.
The Cross River State Police Command later confirmed the incident, describing the attackers as hoodlums and stating that officers were deployed to restore order.
The Bakassi incident comes months after Obi and other ADC chieftains were allegedly attacked by suspected thugs in Benin City.
The attack reportedly occurred shortly after Obi, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun, and other party figures returned from the ADC secretariat where the 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, was formally welcomed into the party.
Following that earlier incident, the Department of State Services announced the arrest of a suspect, Udeme Sunday Stephen, believed to be linked to the attack on Obi and other ADC members.
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