Rivers ADC accuses police and local security group of disrupting meeting and arresting members

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State claims that police and members of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Security Planning and Advisory Committee (OSPAC) disrupted a political meeting in Ikwerre Local Government Area. They also say three of their members were arrested during the incident.

In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday by their spokesperson, Chizy Enyi, the party called for the immediate release of Confidence Amadi, Chikezie Justice, and Isaiah Thomas. They were reportedly arrested in Isiokpo during the meeting.

The ADC said that Jeffrey Okenne, their House of Assembly candidate for Ikwerre State Constituency, organized a peaceful meeting to discuss his campaign. They claim that police and OSPAC personnel burst into the venue and caused chaos.

The party alleged that some attendees were beaten up, injured, and had their mobile phones taken away. Okenne shared a video on Facebook, stating that OSPAC was sent to the community by the police through the Ikwerre Local Government Chairman, Charles Nwobodo.

"He (Mr Nwobodo) sent the Councillor for Ward 1, and the chief security officer to come to my community and scatter a meeting," he said.

Okenne emphasized that the party had the right to campaign. He mentioned that this would be the last video the ADC in Ikwerre would make about the incident. In another Facebook post, he claimed that OSPAC members used machetes to beat people and took phones and money from some participants. He also said three of his team members were arrested.

'Order from above'

The ADC mentioned that their attempts to get the detained members released failed. They said the Isiokpo Area Commander, ACP Felix Ojiaku, claimed they would be charged with cultism. They alleged this was based on an "order from above."

The party raised concerns about the impartiality of law enforcement and whether security agencies are being used to intimidate opposition members. They urged the Inspector-General of Police and the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to investigate the incident and check if any officer acted on such an order.

The ADC also claimed that some OSPAC members later went to the police area command and attacked ADC members near the police facility. They are particularly worried about Mr Thomas, whose house in Omuoko village, Aluu, was reportedly attacked, looted, and burned back in August after a political meeting.

Thomas had previously blamed members of the Rainbow Coalition, led by former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, for that incident. This claim has not been independently verified. Police confirmed the fire and said an investigation was ongoing. Wike is currently the Minister of the FCT Abuja.

This new allegation comes after previous reports of attacks on ADC activities in Rivers. In March, suspected thugs reportedly disrupted an ADC Young Women Forum meeting in Eleme, damaging canopies, loudspeakers, and chairs. Earlier that month, gunmen also attacked an ADC ward secretariat in Ubima, Ikwerre, setting the building on fire. Police said they were looking into the incident and described the fire as done by "miscreants." No arrests had been made at the time of the report.

'Nobody has a monopoly on violence'

In another video shared on Facebook, the ADC chairman in Ikwerre, Joel Wigwe, stated that 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, insisting that the party wanted to inform the public about its challenges.

The ADC said it remains committed to peaceful political participation and will pursue legal means to protect its members. They called on the police and other authorities to investigate the incident before it leads to more political violence ahead of the 2027 elections.

They also asked the National Human Rights Commission and other security agencies to step in. When approached, OSPAC spokesperson, Godknows Egbo, acknowledged the incident but said he could not comment since it had not yet been officially reported to their headquarters in Omoku.

The police spokesperson in the state, Blessing Agabe, did not respond to calls and messages sent to her WhatsApp for comments when this report was filed. PREMIUM TIMES was also unable to reach the council chairman, Mr Nwobodo, for comments at that time.