By Becky Momodu
An alleged attempt by suspected political thugs to disrupt preparations for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) National Executive Committee meeting at JD Event Centre, Abuja, has raised concerns over security ahead of the party’s scheduled activities on Monday.
The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday evening, October 25, at JD Event Centre, Abuja, where unidentified men allegedly attempted to destroy decorations put in place for Monday’s meeting. Organisers said the men were resisted but reportedly threatened to return and disrupt the proceedings.
Reacting to the development, Dr Prince, a concerned observer associated with Northern Integrity Professionals (NIP), condemned the alleged incident, describing it as unacceptable in a democratic society.
“This is totally uncalled for. We are in a democratic setting, and everyone must be allowed to exercise their civic rights without intimidation,” he said.
Dr Prince expressed concern over what he described as the deterioration of democratic practices, stressing the need for citizens and international observers to defend constitutional rights and democratic institutions.
He also questioned whether public officials were upholding the oaths they took upon assuming office, arguing that such commitments should serve as a continuous standard for assessing the exercise of public authority.
The reported incident comes amid previous reports of violence involving NDC members and supporters, including the disruption of a party meeting in Nkanu West, Enugu State, in September and an October 22 attack on the convoy of an NDC State House of Assembly candidate in Ebonyi State.
Police reportedly said the Ebonyi attack left one person dead and three others injured. However, no evidence has been established linking the previous incidents to Sunday’s alleged disturbance in Abuja.
As of the time of filing this report, the identities of the men allegedly involved in the Abuja incident and whether a formal police complaint had been lodged remained unclear.
The development comes ahead of the NDC’s third NEC meeting scheduled for Monday, October 26, at 10 a.m., during which the National Treasurer is expected to present the party’s statement of account.
The programme also includes the commissioning of the party’s new national secretariat in Jabi, Abuja, at 2 p.m., followed by the inauguration of its National Campaign Council and the presentation of Certificates of Return to candidates at 5 p.m.
The planned activities are expected to draw media attention amid renewed calls for peaceful political participation and respect for democratic rights.
Whether the alleged threat will affect the party’s scheduled activities remains to be seen, as attention shifts to the security arrangements for Monday’s proceedings.
