Failed Arson Attack on ADC Secretariat: Ruling Party’s Desperation Descends into Political Terrorism in Edo State

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Failed Arson Attack on ADC Secretariat: Ruling Party’s Desperation Descends into Political Terrorism in Edo State

Lionfacenews

Benin City, Edo State — What played out on  Wednesday night in Benin City was not mischief, not vandalism, and certainly not an accident. It was a premeditated act of political terrorism, carried out by masked cowards threatened by the unstoppable rise of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Edo State.

At about 9:00 p.m., under the cover of darkness, five masked men stormed the newly inaugurated ADC state secretariat when they were certain no party member was present. This calculated timing alone exposes the attackers for what they are: spineless political thugs, afraid of confrontation but emboldened by the culture of impunity that now defines Nigeria’s ruling political order.

The assailants pulled down ADC flags, vandalised party property, and attempted to set the building ablaze. Their crude effort failed—not because they lacked intent, but because their plan was poorly executed and cut short by vigilant residents who raised alarm and mobilised instantly to defend the secretariat. The attackers fled in panic, narrowly escaping lynching by angry citizens who refused to watch democracy burn in their neighbourhood.

Security agencies—the Police, DSS, and Nigerian Army—responded swiftly and secured the area. However, Nigerians are no longer interested in speed of response alone. Arrests must follow. Prosecutions must follow. Sponsors must be exposed.

Eyewitnesses have already provided damning details to security operatives. The attackers reportedly arrived in a grey Toyota Hiace (Vannette) bus, were five in number, and were heard chanting party slogans during the operation—obliterating any claim that this was a random criminal act. This was political violence, pure and simple, with fingerprints pointing unmistakably toward desperate political interests.

Across Edo State, citizens are calling the attack what it truly is: the violent outburst of a collapsing political structure terrified of losing relevance. The ADC’s rapid expansion, mass defections, and swelling grassroots support have clearly rattled those who believe power must be retained at all costs—even if it means arson, intimidation, and bloodshed.

The attack has further fueled concerns about an ongoing plot to suffocate opposition parties and impose a de facto one-party state, ahead of the 2027 general elections. The reckless obsession with delivering fictitious vote figures through fear rather than popularity has driven certain political actors into outright madness.

Let it be stated without ambiguity: If these criminals are not arrested and their sponsors named, Edo State risks sliding into politically induced anarchy. Silence or soft-pedaling this crime will be interpreted as approval, emboldening further attacks—not just against ADC, but against any dissenting political voice.

“This is no longer politics; it is criminality,” an ADC leader said. “Those behind this attack must understand that Edo State is not their private estate, and democracy will not be murdered in silence.”

ADC members insist that intimidation has failed and will continue to fail. The party has vowed to strengthen its structures, deepen grassroots engagement, and resist all attempts to derail democratic competition through violence.

History is clear: political movements crushed through violence only return stronger. And those who sponsor thuggery today inevitably face public reckoning tomorrow.

Lionfacenews

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