2027: ADC Demands Action Over Reported Attack On PDP Meeting

CROSS RIVER, CALABAR – As concerns grow over political violence ahead of the 2027 elections, ADC governorship candidate in Cross River State, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, has demanded urgent action over the reported attack on Peoples Democratic Party consultative meetings in Calabar South.

The reported incidents on October 2 left three people injured and several vehicles damaged, according to the PDP, while the Cross River State Police Command said it had deployed personnel and was verifying reports of gunfire, injuries and property damage.

Reacting in a statement signed by her spokesman, Archibong Eyo, Toyo condemned the reported violence, describing it as a threat to democratic participation and a warning that should not be ignored ahead of the 2027 elections.

“The reported violence, in which gunshots were allegedly fired, persons injured and vehicles reportedly vandalised during political consultations on October 2, must not be treated as another routine political dispute,” Toyo said.

She stressed that while political disagreements were legitimate, shooting, intimidation, destruction of property and violence against political activities were unacceptable.

Toyo called on the Cross River State Government and security agencies to act immediately, particularly urging the Police Command to conduct what she described as a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation.

She said investigators should identify those responsible, establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensure that anyone found culpable faces the law, irrespective of political affiliation or status.

The ADC candidate also urged political parties and their supporters to reject retaliation and allow law-enforcement agencies to investigate the incident.

“We cannot build a democratic society where political meetings are met with gunfire and intimidation. Cross River belongs to all of us,” she said.

Toyo argued that no political party or individual should use violence to determine who can meet, organise or express political opinions.

She further warned that failure to respond appropriately could create conditions for political violence to spread, stressing that an attack against one political organisation could eventually affect others.

“Today it is the PDP. Tomorrow it could be the ADC, APC, Labour Party or any other political organisation,” she said.

The ADC candidate also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to pay closer attention to emerging threats to political participation and strengthen mechanisms for documenting and responding to political violence ahead of 2027.

She said Cross River voters deserved an electoral environment where candidates could meet citizens without fear, political parties could organise freely and citizens could make political choices without intimidation.

“We therefore demand action, not excuses. We demand investigation, not political cover. And where criminal responsibility is established, we demand prosecution, not negotiation,” Toyo said.

The Police Command has said the situation is under control and that investigations are ongoing, while the All Progressives Congress has denied involvement in the reported attacks.