A group of youths allegedly linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) disrupted the opening of a new secretariat for the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Bakassi Local Government Area, Cross River State, on Saturday.
According to reports and video footage circulating online, the youths arrived at the prepared venue, dispersed ADC supporters, and destroyed canopies, chairs, public address systems, and other event equipment. In the video, a man believed to be leading the group declared that the ADC would not be permitted to conduct political activities in the council area.
Eyewitnesses stated that ADC members had completed preparations for the ceremony, including installing sound systems and arranging seating, before the attackers stormed the site.
The incident was condemned by Effiong Nyong, the ADC’s 2023 governorship candidate in Cross River State. In a statement, he described the attack as a display of fear and intolerance, alleging that poverty had been “weaponised” to manipulate young people into assaulting opposition figures. Nyong called for unity among opposition groups to “rescue the state from a government that lacks capacity and vision” and urged authorities to arrest those responsible.
The Cross River State Police Command confirmed the disruption, labeling the perpetrators as “hoodlums.” ASP Eitokpah Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, said officers were deployed to restore order and prevent further escalation. He noted that no arrests had been made at the time of reporting, but police tactical teams remained in the area.
Attempts to contact Cross River APC Chairman Chris Etta for comment on the incident were unsuccessful.
The disruption highlights escalating political tensions in Cross River State and raises concerns about the safety of opposition political activities in the region. Police presence in Bakassi remains heightened as investigations continue.
