APC Hoodlums Attack Three ADC Chieftains, Injure Several Members In One Week
In the space of one week, three chieftains and several members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were attacked by hoodlums allegedly working for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The chieftains who were attacked between August 30 and September 06 are former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and former Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in Lagos, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
The latest of the attacks came last Saturday when thugs numbering over 50 stormed the second venue booked by the ADC for the defection of the former LP gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State to the party.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the event was initially scheduled to take place in the Alimosho area of the state. However, security operatives barred Rhodes-Vivour and his supporters from gaining access to the venue on Saturday morning, despite getting approval to use the venue.
Despite securing another place for the programme, the heavily-armed thugs came in, harassed people, and in the process, injured the personal photographer of the ADC chieftain who was macheted.
However, despite efforts to stop the defection, the ADC loyalists and supporters stood their ground.
Speaking during the declaration, Rhodes-Vivour described the move as part of a broader coalition.
He said, “I am happy to become part of this family. I’m looking forward to the union and governance that this party will bring to Nigerians. My prayer is that God will grant our leaders and the party’s structure the wisdom to come together and define a new path for our beloved country.”
The politician also called for unity among opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“This is a coalition that is meant to rescue Nigeria. I have said since after the 2023 elections that we cannot afford to divide the opposition going into the next election. We must come together, united through a robust coalition that will stand a chance in 2027 to deliver this country,” he added.
The Chairman of the ADC in the state, George Ashiru, said the move signalled the strengthening of an opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He also described Rhodes-Vivour’s defection as a historic affirmation of a coalition that had been in the works since the last election.
He said, “Today we are having one of the most important affirmation programmes where our coalition partners from one of the key blocs in the Labour Party are joining this wonderful family of Nigerians, the African Democratic Congress.
“We are not affirming one man, we are affirming a movement, but every movement has a leader, and what brother Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour represents is the leadership of a movement that shook Lagos in the last election.”
OSUN DEFENDER reports that violence broke out on Saturday, August 30, at the inauguration of a transition committee jointly set up by opposition parties in Kaduna State, as armed thugs stormed the venue, attacking participants and destroying property.
The committee comprised members of an APC faction opposed to the state leadership alongside PDP, SDP, NNPP, Labour Party, and ADC.
The hoodlums, armed with cutlasses, clubs, and stones, disrupted the launch, injuring several people and damaging vehicles. Despite the chaos, the event continued under tense conditions.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who attended the gathering, condemned the attack, describing it as “a dangerous descent into lawlessness.”
He alleged that senior police officers, including an Assistant Commissioner of Police, “stood by and watched” as the violence escalated.
Similarly, on September 02, armed thugs suspected to be loyalists of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) unleashed violence on the convoy of Abubakar Malami in Kebbi State.
The attack left about 10 vehicles badly damaged while several supporters of the former minister sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Malami, who now leads the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state, confirmed the incident, stressing that his mission in Birnin Kebbi had nothing to do with politics.
According to him, he was returning from a condolence visit to the Emir of Gwandu and the family of late Imam Tukur Kola in Birnin Kebbi when his convoy was “violently attacked near my private residence by political thugs that emerged from State APC headquarters positioned very close to my residence.”
He narrated, “Stones and dangerous objects were hurled at us, vehicles were damaged, and several people sustained injuries, including fractures.
“What is most disturbing is that this was not an isolated act of hooliganism. Evidence clearly points to a politically orchestrated attack, allegedly funded and coordinated by powerful figures who have abandoned governance at the altar of do-or-die politics.
“The presence of the APC party stalwarts and close relations of the Governor were visibly noticed on site when the attack was being perpetrated.
“The presence of security personnel did not help matters as the thugs moved into the party headquarters for apparent cover and no arrest was eventually made. There was deliberate inaction.”
Many Nigerians, who have taken to the mainstream and social media to condemn the incidents, urged the ruling All Progressives Congress APC not to attempt to silence the opposition by attacking its members, but focus on the delivery of its electoral mandate to the people.
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Kazeem Badmus is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience. A professional in journalism and media writing, Kazeem prioritses accuracy and factual reportage of issues. He is also a dexterous finder of the truth with conscious delivery of unbiased and development oriented stories.
