Peter Obi has spoken out forcefully after suspected political thugs stormed and violently disrupted the planned opening of an African Democratic Congress secretariat in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State on Saturday March 15, 2026.
In a statement released via his X handle, Obi described the incident as an attack on democracy itself. “What occurred at the ADC office in Bakassi, Cross River State, is not merely an attack on a political party; it is an attack on democracy itself,” he said. “When thugs can storm a party office and destroy property without facing arrest, it reflects how dangerously low our democratic standards have fallen,” he added.
He warned that the erosion of leadership standards and the tolerance of political violence could push the country towards widespread unrest.
The Nigeria Police Force confirmed the disruption, with reports indicating that unidentified individuals stormed the venue shortly before the ceremony was due to begin, pulling down canopies, scattering chairs and damaging parts of the sound system that had been set up for the occasion.
The unexpected attack created panic among attendees, forcing organisers to immediately suspend the event as people scrambled to safety.
The secretariat opening had attracted ADC supporters and coalition members and was expected to mark a significant moment for the party as it prepared to formally inaugurate its new office ahead of the ADC’s national convention slated for April 14, 2026.
The Cross River attack is the latest in a pattern of violent disruptions that have followed the ADC and its leading figures in recent weeks. On February 24, 2026, Peter Obi and other ADC leaders were attacked in Benin City, Edo State, during the formal reception of former Labour Party governorship candidate Olumide Akpata into the ADC. Armed individuals trailed Obi and party leaders from the ADC secretariat to the residence of former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, shot at the gate and destroyed several vehicles in what Obi’s camp described as a survived assassination attempt.
The Edo State Governor denied any involvement in that attack.
No arrests have been made in connection with the Cross River disruption at the time of this report. The identities of those responsible have not been officially confirmed and no group has claimed responsibility.
