By Luminous Jannamike
ABUJA — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned that no one has a monopoly on violence, following an attack on its members in Kaduna State, saying those introducing thuggery into the 2027 political process are playing a dangerous game.
The party said the attack was an unacceptable escalation at a time when political activities ahead of the 2027 elections were only beginning, warning that violence must not be allowed to become an instrument of political competition.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said its commitment to peaceful democratic participation should not be mistaken for weakness.
“Let nobody mistake our commitment to peaceful democratic participation for weakness. No political party has a monopoly on non-state sanctioned violence. Once violence becomes an accepted instrument of political competition, nobody can predict where it ends,” Abdullahi said.
The party urged security agencies to immediately identify those responsible for the attack, including anyone who sponsored or organised it, and bring them to justice.
“This is why the security agencies must act now. Those responsible for the attack, as well as anyone who sponsored or organised it, must be identified, arrested and prosecuted,” the ADC said.
The party also expressed solidarity with its governorship candidate, Hon. Isa Ashiru, and other members affected by the incident, while calling on the Kaduna State Government to guarantee the safety of opposition parties.
“Kaduna belongs to its people, not to any party,” the ADC said, warning against any attempt to use intimidation to push it out of the political arena.
“If anyone believes intimidation will frighten the ADC off the political field, they have badly miscalculated,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC said it would continue to organise and campaign across Kaduna State despite the attack, insisting that the 2027 election must be determined by political ideas and the ballot box.
“We will not be intimidated. We will organise, we will campaign, and we will compete in every part of Kaduna State. The 2027 elections must be decided by ideas competing at the ballot box, not by thugs and bruises,” the party said.
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