By The All Progressives Congress (APC) has hit back at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over allegations linking the party to a reported shooting involving opposition figures in Edo State.
APC described the party and its leadership as “insufferable jesters” and “its own nemesis.”
In a press statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party said the accusation was “utterly delusional,” insisting that the ADC acted without allowing security agencies to investigate the incident.
“The ADC and its leaders are insufferable jesters. They weaponise dark humour as a strategy to deceive, distract and disrupt in desperation for public sympathy,” the statement read.
APC said the opposition party, by reaching what it called a “baseless conclusion,” had made itself “the accuser, investigator, prosecutor, and judge in its own cause,” adding that such conduct raised doubts about its capacity to handle national security matters.
While condemning violence in the political space, the ruling party called on the police and other law-enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough and expeditious investigation into the Edo incident and bring those responsible to justice.
“Make no mistake, violence of any kind in our political space is unacceptable and must be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians,” the party stated, while maintaining that it had “absolutely no role or responsibility” in the reported attack.
Background
ADC had, in a statement released about 16 hours earlier and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, alleged that a gun attack on Tuesday, February 24, in Edo State targeted prominent opposition figures, including former governor John Oyegun, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Edo governorship candidate Olumide Akpata, who recently defected to the party.
According to ADC, the incident occurred during a political gathering organised to formally receive Mr. Olumide Akpata into its fold and reflected what it described as a pattern of political intimidation against the opposition.
“We are compiling all cases of acts of terrorism by the ruling APC against our party. We shall soon be making our reports available to all diplomatic missions as well as the ECOWAS Court of Human Rights,” the statement read.
The opposition party further accused the ruling party and the Edo State Government of creating a climate of hostility through inflammatory rhetoric, a claim APC has now rejected.
