Tension gripped Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Tuesday after suspected hoodlums set ablaze the Secretariat of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), disrupting the inauguration of the party’s executives.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of the day at the Basiri area of Ado-Ekiti, completely razed the party secretariat and destroyed several valuables, including chairs, canopies, sound systems, and office equipment.
It was gathered that the damaged items had been rented for the inauguration of the ADC executives across wards, local government areas, and the state level, which was scheduled to take place later in the day.
Hours after the arson, the hoodlums regrouped and invaded the venue of the affirmation ceremony, shooting sporadically into the air and causing chaos. Party members, journalists, and passers-by were forced to flee for safety, while several vehicles and motorcycles were vandalized.
Despite the attack, the ADC National Secretary, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, arrived at the venue amid tight security and proceeded with a brief inauguration of the new executives.
Condemning the attack, Aregbesola described it as a “shameful act of political intolerance and a dangerous threat to democracy.” He lamented that those who should uphold democratic principles were now resorting to violence to silence opposition voices.
He emphasized that democracy thrives on freedom of association and peaceful political participation, warning that such acts of violence signal a drift toward authoritarianism. Aregbesola also faulted the security agencies for failing to prevent the attack, accusing them of negligence.
Former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, also condemned the incident, describing it as “an act of political terrorism” and “a dangerous assault on democratic values.”
Olusola-Eleka lamented that violence was creeping into Ekiti politics, a state once known for peace and tolerance, and criticized the police for their slow response despite early reports of the midnight attack.
“What happened today is political terrorism. It is against the principles of democracy we all preach. We reported to the police hours before, yet no preventive action was taken,” he stated.
Confirming the incident, the Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph Eribo, had ordered a full-scale investigation to identify and arrest the perpetrators.
