Obi noted that the incident at the ADC secretariat underscores a concerning decline in democratic standards in Nigeria.
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has described the recent disruption of the opening ceremony of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secretariat in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State, as “an attack on democracy itself.”
He made this known late on Sunday in a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) page following the incident.
Obi was reacting to reports that suspected thugs stormed the secretariat on Saturday, dispersing party supporters and destroying canopies, loudspeakers, chairs, and other equipment during its launch.
Speaking on the development, the former Anambra State governor said the assault by suspected political thugs underscores a concerning decline in democratic standards in Nigeria.
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He also warned that the erosion of leadership standards and the tolerance of political misconduct could destabilise the nation.
”What happened at the ADC office in Bakassi is not merely an attack on a political party; it is an attack on democracy itself. When thugs can storm a party office and destroy property without facing arrest, it reflects how dangerously low our democratic standards have fallen,” the former presidential candidate stated.
Obi went on to say that the lack of zeal to stamp out the presentation of forged documents before elections does not augur well for the country, cautioning that fraudulent practices in politics only pave the way for violence.
“The ability for individuals to present forged certificates for election sends a troubling message to our society. If we continue down this path, violence may become the future of our democracy,” he said.
He stressed that genuine leadership cannot emerge from fraud and intimidation, noting that such actions ultimately threaten the well-being of citizens and future generations.
