The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State has accused the police and members of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Security Planning and Advisory Committee (OSPAC) of disrupting a political meeting in Ikwerre Local Government Area and arresting three of its members.
The party, in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday by its spokesperson, Chizy Enyi, demanded the immediate release of Confidence Amadi, Chikezie Justice and Isaiah Thomas, who it said were arrested during the incident in Isiokpo.
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The ADC alleged that its House of Assembly candidate for Ikwerre State Constituency, Jeffrey Okenne, had convened a peaceful consultative meeting ahead of his campaign activities when police and OSPAC personnel allegedly stormed the venue.
According to the party, the security personnel assaulted some participants, inflicted injuries and seized mobile phones.
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Mr Okenne, in a video posted on Facebook on Friday, alleged that OSPAC was led to the community by the police through the Ikwerre Local Government Chairman, Charles Nwobodo.
“He (Mr Wobodo) sent the Councillor for Ward 1, and the chief security officer to come to my community and scatter a meeting,” he said.
The candidate said the party had a right to campaign, adding that the incident was the “last video” the ADC in Ikwerre would make over the matter.
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In a separate Facebook post, Mr Okenne alleged that OSPAC members used machetes to flog and assault people, while phones and money were taken from some participants.
He also alleged that three members of his team were arrested.
‘Order from above’
The ADC said its efforts to secure the release of the detained members were unsuccessful after the “Isiokpo Area Commander, ACP Felix Ojiaku,” allegedly said they would be charged with cultism based on an “order from above”.
The party said the allegation, if established, raised questions about the neutrality of law-enforcement agencies and whether security institutions were being used to intimidate opposition members.
It called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to investigate the incident and establish whether any officer acted on such an order.
The party also alleged that some OSPAC members later mobilised to the police area command and assaulted ADC members near the police facility.
The ADC said it was particularly concerned about Mr Thomas, whose residence in Omuoko village, Aluu, was allegedly attacked, looted and burnt in August following a political meeting.
Mr Thomas had previously accused members of the Rainbow Coalition, a political group led by former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, of responsibility for the incident. The allegation was not independently established. Police confirmed the fire and said an investigation was ongoing.
Mr Wike is the minister of the FCT Abuja.
The latest allegation comes amid previous reports of attacks and disruptions involving ADC activities in Rivers.
In March, suspected thugs reportedly disrupted an ADC Young Women Forum meeting in Eleme, destroying canopies, loudspeakers and chairs.
Earlier that month, gunmen also reportedly attacked an ADC ward secretariat in Ubima, Ikwerre, setting the building ablaze. Police said they were investigating the incident and described the fire as having been orchestrated by “miscreants”. No arrest had been made at the time of the report.
‘Nobody has a monopoly on violence’
Speaking in another video, posted on Facebook, the ADC chairman in Ikwerre, Joel Wigwe, said the party would not accept the disruption of its meetings.
“Nobody has a monopoly on violence. We have what it takes to resist them,” Mr Wigwe said, while insisting that the party wanted the public to know what it was experiencing.
The ADC, however, said it remained committed to peaceful political participation and would pursue lawful and judicial means to protect its members.
READ ALSO: Police, ADC supporters clash in Kaduna as 2027 campaigns begin
The party urged the police and other relevant authorities to investigate the incident before it escalates into wider political violence ahead of the 2027 elections.
It also called on the National Human Rights Commission and other security and regulatory agencies to intervene.
When contacted, OSPAC spokesperson, Godknows Egbo, acknowledged the incident but said he cannot comment because it has yet to be officially reported to its headquarters in Omoku, where he speaks from.
The police spokesperson in the state, Blessing Agabe, did not respond to calls and questions sent to her WhatsApp for comments at the time of filing this report.
PREMIUM TIMES could not reach the council chairman, Mr Wobodo, for comment at the time of filing this report.
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