Adewole Adebayo Condemns Attack on Sowore, Accuses APC of Intimidating Opposition
The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has condemned the violent attack on the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and members of his campaign team in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Adebayo described the incident as an assault on democracy, freedom of expression and the constitutional right of citizens to peaceful assembly.
He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of creating an atmosphere of political intimidation and stifling democratic participation through what he described as acts of violence and intolerance against opposition voices.
The SDP presidential candidate made his position known in a press statement issued by the Chief Media and Communications Adviser of the Adebayo-Bugaje Presidential Campaign, Comrade Mark Adebayo.
He said the attack demonstrated the ruling party's intolerance of opposing political views, stressing that democracy should be built on the exchange of ideas rather than violence.
"The APC has once again demonstrated a reprehensible intolerance for the opposition.
"A multi-party democracy thrives on the clash of ideas, not the clash of weapons. By resorting to violence to silence opposing political views, the ruling party has made it clear that it has no regard for the rule of law or the rights of Nigerian citizens to choose their leaders without fear," he stated.
Adebayo further warned that the resort to violence and political intimidation posed a serious threat to Nigeria's democratic stability and national development.
According to him, meaningful progress cannot be achieved in an environment characterised by fear, thuggery and lawlessness.
He also described the APC as the biggest threat to Nigeria's democracy and development, urging political actors to embrace tolerance and respect the rights of opposition parties to campaign freely.
The Adebayo-Bugaje Campaign consequently called on the Inspector-General of Police and other relevant security agencies to immediately investigate the incident, identify and arrest those responsible.
The campaign also urged security agencies to take decisive steps to prevent political violence from escalating ahead of future elections.
It expressed solidarity with Sowore and members of the AAC campaign team, insisting that acts of intimidation and violence would not discourage Nigerians seeking political change.
The statement reaffirmed the campaign's position that Nigeria's democracy must be protected through respect for the rule of law, political tolerance and the freedom of citizens to support candidates of their choice without fear of intimidation.
Comments
Post a Comment