Thugs Disrupt ADC Women’s Political Gathering in Rivers State
Armed political thugs on Friday violently attacked a meeting organized by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Young Women Forum in Alesa Eleme, Rivers State. The assailants stormed the venue, dismantling canopies and smashing chairs and loudspeakers, forcing the participants to flee the scene in terror.
The attackers reportedly justified their actions by claiming the organizers lacked prior approval for the gathering, citing alleged regulations regarding political activities. However, sources at the scene noted that the disruption appeared to be a targeted strike against the opposition party’s grassroots mobilization efforts.
National Coordinator of the ADC Young Women’s Forum, Atosemi Oma-Uwame, condemned the incident as a calculated attempt to suppress democratic participation. Clarifying the nature of the event, she stated, “We gathered to organize ourselves as young women in politics, not for any campaign. Yet, thugs led by a ward councillor disrupted the event and insisted we could not hold a meeting under the ADC platform.”
Oma-Uwame further revealed that she had been previously warned against hosting any political event using the ADC identity in the area. Highlighting the targeted nature of the assault, she noted, “The forum is designed to encourage women’s participation in politics and promote balance within the party. Acts like this are meant to silence that progress.”
The ADC leadership maintained that the gathering was an internal inaugural session for young women, rather than a public campaign rally. They argued that the violent intervention reflects a growing and dangerous climate of political intolerance against opposition voices within the state.
Warning that such actions undermine democratic norms, the forum called for greater protection for political inclusion. Regarding the broader implications of the attack, Oma-Uwame concluded, “The disruption reflects a broader climate of intolerance against opposition parties, warning that such actions undermine democratic norms and political inclusion.”
