… Destroy properties worth millions

…“This is political terrorism,” says Aregbesola as Eleka, Fayose call for arrest of arsonists

…Journalists injured as residents’ properties damaged

By Idowu Adebomi, Ado Ekiti

Hoodlums suspected to be politically motivated have stormed the African Democratic Party (ADC) secretariat in Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State.

The secretariat, which had been attacked earlier in the day, was left smouldering as members converged for a formal meeting with the national body of the party ahead of the national secretary Rauf Aregbesola’s impending visit.

However, the hoodlums staged a frightful attack on the crowd, causing people to scamper for safety. The Nigeria NewsDirect correspondent, who witnessed the mayhem, observed the commando-style assault, which resulted in the total destruction of newly rented chairs, giant speakers, mixers, and other equipment.

Shortly after the hoodlums left, Aregbesola arrived at the venue, prompting the already scattered party faithful to reconverge. Reacting to the violence, the National Secretary of the African Democratic Party (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, described the attacks on the party’s members and secretariat in Ado Ekiti by suspected political thugs as barbaric and shameful.

Aregbesola, who expressed his displeasure after inspecting the half-burnt secretariat, condoled with members of the party, especially those who sustained injuries during the assault.

“It is a shameful act and it negates every tenet of whatever democracy stands for. This very barbaric and animalistic behaviour exhibited by these people cannot be overlooked, but I urge our people not to be discouraged as we are steadfast in our resolve to ensure the will of the people prevails and Ekiti is liberated from the shackles of darkness.

It happened here in 2009, when we were locked out and prevented from entering Ekiti by the incumbent back then, and it is so unfortunate that the same thing is happening here again in 2025,” he lamented.

Aregbesola also berated the security agencies for failing to protect the ADC secretariat and its members after it was torched by hoodlums under the cover of darkness. “The security agencies must protect lives and properties, and when they fail to do so, they are violating the constitution. The security acts make it compulsory to do so, and failure to act exposes them as being compromised,” he concluded.

The ADC party secretariat was first torched in the early hours of Tuesday by suspected hoodlums who burnt hundreds of chairs, a 1,000-capacity canopy, and furniture, leaving broken doors and windows.

The State Chairman, Hon. Sunday Ibikunle, explained that after arriving at the party secretariat and seeing the ruins and smoke still rising from the ashes, members made arrangements for another set of chairs to continue the programme, only to be disrupted again.

“We sent for another set of chairs and we started singing, waiting for the arrival of our national leaders, only for the thugs to launch another deadly attack. This time they came with guns, fired sporadically, and descended on people, inflicting serious injuries and damaging vehicles and motorcycles in the process,” Hon. Ibikunle said.

He also accused the police and state government of complicity, stating that the gathering was lawful and the ADC did not do anything to provoke anyone to warrant such attacks on innocent people.

Despite the tense situation, Hon. Ibikunle led executives who were inaugurated and affirmed by Dr. Sunday Bamidele Ajadi, the Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, to pilot the affairs of the state. He also announced that local government, ward, and senatorial executives will be inaugurated at a later date.

In his own words, former House of Assembly member Hon. Dele Ajibola appealed to party members to continue supporting the ADC as it strives to take over government in the 2026 gubernatorial elections.

“We have seen how our resources have been mismanaged. Despite the billions received as allocations, the present administration has done nothing to justify the huge amount that has been coming into the state,” he noted.

However, pandemonium was rejuvenated as soon as the former Governor of Osun State and his entourage left the venue. Thugs, now reinforced and arriving in numerous vehicles, started attacking people and passersby.

The atmosphere became violent as people scrambled for safety, leaving cornered party members, journalists, and residents at the mercy of the attackers.

Newly rented chairs were again destroyed, along with sound systems. Generators used at the event were set on fire, while some party members who could not escape on time were severely beaten and injured.

The thugs also extended the violence to nearby shops and businesses, which were destroyed. Journalists at the event sustained injuries, and vehicles and motorcycles belonging to newsmen were damaged.

Meanwhile, ADC chieftain Professor Kolapo Olusola Eleka condemned the incident, saying it was unfortunate and represented a dangerous assault on democratic values and freedom of political association. He lamented that such acts of violence were creeping into Ekiti politics, a state once known for peace and tolerance.

“We have made reports to the police through the state party chairman, and let me say that we are let down by the security agencies because more than two hours after we reported the midnight attack on our secretariat, they were not there to protect the property and the people,” he lamented.

Police Public Relations Officer SP Sunday Abutu confirmed the incident, assuring that investigations have commenced in a bid to arrest the perpetrators.

“The command is aware of the incident. The Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, has directed a full-scale investigation to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book,” he said.