ADC suffers fresh attack in Rivers

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has suffered another attack in Rivers following the disruption of a meeting of the ADC Young Women Forum at Alesa in Eleme Local Government Area of the state.

It heralds a turbulent political season ahead as the attack looked like a well coordinated move to suppress opposition voices in the area, and the wider Rivers State.

The event on Thursday was the inaugural meeting of the Young Women Forum in the local government area hosted by the National Leader of the forum, Atosemi Oma-Uwame.

But, just as the programme was to commence at about 11.30am, the councillor representing Alesa Ward 1, Daddy Chikere of the All Progressives Congress (APC) came with some aides and disrupted the event.

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The councillor said he was passing by in his vehicle and was attracted to the venue by the banner.

Even the presence of some officers of the Nigerian Police who were there to keep the peace did not deter Chikere as he insisted that the event cannot continue.

Our correspondent who witnessed the incident said if not for the maturity and deterrence of Atosemi, the situation could have turned otherwise.

At a point, as Chikere and his aides asked the disc jockey to stop playing music and Atosemi was on her phone, he queried, “Are you videoing me? Why are you videoing me?”

It was only when she showed him the screen to ascertain that she was not videoing him that he appeared to be pacified, but insisted that the event must stop.

Though several persons who had gathered for the event including the police officers pleaded with him, he refused.

Chikere claimed that he is the chief security officer of the ward and he must be informed before any event can take place in the area.

He also claimed that the venue was within the proximity of the town hall and within the right of way of the road which made it impossible for the programme to hold without his approval.

Chikere further said since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not not announced commencement of campaign activities, he cannot permit the event.

In the end, Chikere and Atosemi embraced, but the latter was visibly distraught at the disruption of her inaugural meeting with young women in the area, more so as she is the national leader of the ADC Young Women Forum.

Reacting to the development, Atosemi said she was happy that the disruption did not result in violence, but was resolved diplomatically.

She said she was told not to organize any programme in the community in the name of ADC or mention ADC.

She stated: “What happened today was supposed to be the inaugural programme of the ADC Young Women Forum in my local government area, and the APC came to disrupt the event.

“I’m grateful that there was no act of any form of violence. The issue was resolved diplomatically.

“They said if I want to hold an event in the community, I should not use the name ADC or mention ADC, my political party.

“This is an attempt to stifle democracy and stop political parties from hosting events. We didn’t come for a campaign, we just came for a gathering of ADC Young Women Forum in the local government area, in my local constituency.

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“Next time, they said I should also write to the councillor to give to the council chairman for approval, which I think I don’t know what to say because I’m short of words”.

An observer who commented on the development, said such untoward action by the APC is not healthy for politics in Rivers State.

He said there is a systematic suppression of other parties’ political activities hence other parties have resorted to waiting until guests were seated before unveiling the banners for events.

He called on INEC and security agencies to ensure the protection of lives and property as the nation enters another season of intense politicking.

He also urged the Rivers State Government and the APC to sensitize party members, stalwarts and supporters to stop further attacks against opposition political parties in the state.

It would be recalled that Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of the state and one of the national leaders of the ADC was attacked in his community, Ubima, when he came to register for the party.

The ADC Secretariat in Ubima, Ikwere Local Government Area was also attacked as the politics of intolerance begins to take root in Rivers State.