Nationwide Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Rauf Aregbesola, and former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, have condemned the assault and burning of the occasion’s secretariat in Ado Ekiti, describing it as a risk to democracy and political tolerance.
DAILY POST studies that residents and ADC members awakened on Tuesday to seek out the secretariat razed, with workplace gear, plastic chairs, canopies, and sound techniques destroyed.
Hours later, suspected hoodlums have been mentioned to have regrouped and invaded the venue of the occasion’s deliberate affirmation ceremony, attacking members, vandalising autos and bikes, and scattering preparations for the occasion.
Reacting to the incident, Aregbesola, who arrived on the venue shortly after the attackers fled, described the incident as a shameful show of intolerance and a harmful sign for democracy.
“It’s regrettable that people who emerged by means of democratic processes can resort to violence and intimidation to suppress opposition voices. The assault on ADC members in Ekiti indicators a descent into fascism,” Aregbesola mentioned.
The previous Inside Minister additionally faulted safety companies for failing to guard the occasion’s members and property, saying such negligence violates the structure.
In the identical vein, Olusola-Eleka described the incident as political terrorism, lamenting that the police did not act swiftly regardless of early studies of the midnight assault.
“We’re let down by the safety companies as a result of greater than two hours after we reported the incident, no officer got here to safe the premises,” he mentioned.
On his half, Ekiti ADC Chairman, Ilesanmi Omolayo, mentioned a number of members have been injured through the assault and have been receiving therapy in hospitals.
He alleged that the assault was an try to intimidate the occasion over its rising recognition.
Additionally reacting, ADC governorship aspirant and former Excessive Commissioner to Canada, Dare Bejide, condemned the assault as barbaric, saying these behind it have been enemies of democracy.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, confirmed the incident, including that the Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, had ordered a full-scale investigation to arrest the perpetrators and convey them to justice.
