Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the violent disruption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secretariat opening in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State, describing the incident as a direct assault on Nigeria’s democratic system.

In a statement posted on his X account on Sunday, Obi said the attack—allegedly carried out by suspected political thugs—underscores what he described as a troubling decline in democratic standards in the country.

According to him, the incident goes beyond a clash involving a political party and represents a broader threat to democratic principles.

“What happened at the ADC office in Bakassi is not merely an attack on a political party; it is an attack on democracy itself,” he stated.

Obi warned that the tolerance of political misconduct and the erosion of leadership standards could further weaken Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“When thugs can storm a party office and destroy property without facing arrest, it reflects how dangerously low our democratic standards have fallen,” he said.
He also cautioned that continued tolerance for fraudulent political practices could fuel violence within the political space.

“The ability for individuals to present forged certificates for election sends a troubling message to our society. If we continue down this path, violence may become the future of our democracy,” Obi added.

The former Anambra State governor stressed that credible leadership cannot emerge from fraud or intimidation, noting that such actions ultimately endanger citizens and the nation’s future.

His reaction follows reports that suspected thugs disrupted the ADC secretariat launch in Bakassi on Saturday, dispersing party supporters and damaging canopies, chairs, loudspeakers and other equipment set up for the event.