ADC Sounds Alarm Over Police Crackdown, Seizure of Party Materials in Enugu

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns over what it describes as targeted harassment by security forces in Enugu State, claiming that police interference and the seizure of party materials are hampering its organisational activities. Party officials say officers disrupted internal mobilisation efforts and blocked local registration initiatives, prompting them to escalate the matter to national security authorities for intervention. ADC leaders insist such actions infringe on their rights to political association and could undermine democratic participation in the region.

Tensions within the party’s Enugu chapter intensified when a leadership dispute arose during a recent membership registration exercise. A faction challenged the authority of the committee overseeing the event, leading to protests and a temporary halt of proceedings. Disagreements over who should manage the exercise spilled into the open, sparking mistrust and raising concerns about the security of party documents and materials as participants were kept under strict supervision.

The ADC says these confrontations are part of a broader pattern of state actors impeding opposition activities, with both physical interference and legal threats against organisers viewed as tactics to stifle the party’s growth. Officials have called on national security agencies to provide protection and ensure accountability, emphasizing their commitment to lawful operations and the safety of party members.

Despite internal divisions and organisational challenges, the party maintains that it will continue grassroots mobilisation in preparation for upcoming elections. ADC representatives stress that they are pursuing legal avenues to resolve disputes while safeguarding their structures and operations against undue interference.