The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of “acting like a terrorist organisation” after suspected thugs invaded a church premises in Alimosho LGA of Lagos state.
The incident happened last week during a gathering attended by party leaders, including Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who formally declared his membership of the ADC.
In a statement on Sunday, Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC national publicity secretary, said political thugs allegedly sponsored by the ruling party stormed the church venue, leaving people injured, destroying vehicles and seizing property.
“The invasion of a church premises by government-backed political thugs is a profound act of desecration by a jittery ruling party who would stop at nothing to silence opposition voices in the country,” Abdullahi said.
The party said the Lagos attack was part of a wider pattern of intimidation, citing threats in Edo, harassment in Kogi, the shutdown of a radio station in Niger, attacks in Kaduna, and assaults on convoys of party leaders in Kebbi.
“With this attack on a church, no one can predict how far this APC under President Tinubu is willing to go in its desperate quest to hold on to power at all costs,” the party said.
The ADC also recalled that a Canadian court had recently designated the APC as a terrorist organisation, saying the ruling party’s conduct was consistent with that judgment.
“If churches and other places of worship are no longer regarded as inviolable by the APC goons, how then does the party intend to prove to the world that it is not indeed a terrorist organisation? After all, attacking places of worship is what terrorists do,” Abdullahi added.
The party urged the Nigeria Police Force to remain loyal to the constitution, and to arrest and prosecute those responsible for the attacks.
“The police have a duty to ensure that justice is served swiftly and transparently to the perpetrators of the attack in Lagos, Kaduna, Kebbi, and all other states where ADC leaders have been threatened and assaulted. Nigerians are watching, and the credibility of our institutions is on trial before the whole world,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC said the APC’s alleged reliance on violence was an admission of failure.
“Rather than present a track record of achievements to the Nigerian people, the APC wants to bulldoze its way into another election season by eliminating opposition. This is the mark of dictatorship,” the party said.
It added that while it remained committed to peaceful engagement with Nigerians, it would not remain passive in the face of repeated attacks.
“We will remain undeterred. We are committed to engaging Nigerians peacefully, constructively, and courageously. But we will not fold our arms while our leaders are attacked and our gatherings are turned into battlegrounds. This must stop. And it must stop now,” the party stated.