ADC Accuses APC of Terror-Style Violence After Lagos Church Attack

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of behaving like a terrorist organisation following a violent attack on its members at a church in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State last week.

The incident occurred during a gathering attended by party leaders, including Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who was formally declaring his membership of the opposition party. According to the ADC, thugs allegedly sponsored by the APC stormed the church premises, destroyed vehicles, seized property, and left several people injured.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC condemned the attack as a desecration of a place of worship and a dangerous escalation of political violence. “The invasion of a church premises by government-backed political thugs is a profound act of desecration by a jittery ruling party who would stop at nothing to silence opposition voices in the country,” Abdullahi said.

The party alleged that the Lagos violence was part of a wider pattern of intimidation across multiple states, citing threats to its leaders in Edo, harassment in Kogi, the shutdown of a private radio station in Niger, disruptions of meetings in Kaduna, and assaults on convoys in Kebbi.

It also referenced a recent ruling in Canada, where a court reportedly declared the APC a terrorist organisation, and questioned how the ruling party could distance itself from such a label while attacks on places of worship continued. “If churches and other places of worship are no longer regarded as inviolable by the APC goons, how then does the party intend to prove to the world that it is not indeed a terrorist organisation? After all, attacking places of worship is what terrorists do,” Abdullahi added.

The ADC called on the Nigeria Police Force to remain loyal to the constitution rather than act as an arm of the ruling party. It demanded the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the Lagos incident and other violent attacks targeting opposition leaders nationwide. “The police have a duty to ensure that justice is served swiftly and transparently. Nigerians are watching, and the credibility of our institutions is on trial before the whole world,” Abdullahi said.

Describing the APC’s alleged resort to violence as a “confession of failure,” the ADC said the ruling party preferred intimidation to presenting Nigerians with a record of achievements. The opposition party, however, vowed to continue peaceful political engagement while defending its members from further attacks.

“We will remain undeterred. We are committed to engaging Nigerians peacefully, constructively, and courageously. But we will not fold our arms while our leaders are attacked and our gatherings are turned into battlegrounds. This must stop. And it must stop now,” the party declared.