…Analysts warn of growing intolerance ahead of polls
The African Democratic Congress, (ADC), has again accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of stifling opposition activities, after police operatives yesterday sealed-off Lion Field in Alimosho, Lagos, a venue earlier approved for an ADC political meeting.
The development comes barely 24 hours after Police in Kaduna shut down the party’s office ahead of a scheduled North-West leadership meeting, sparking fears of a wider clampdown on opposition movements.
Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is now facing mounting criticism after state authorities blocked the ADC gathering despite organisers insisting they had obtained all necessary approvals.
Reacting on X (formerly Twitter), Labour Party’s 2023 Lagos governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, condemned the action as “an abuse of power” and a direct assault on democratic freedoms.
“It is truly disappointing that the Lagos APC is abusing state institutions by sealing off the venue where the ADC was scheduled to hold a meeting after obtaining the necessary approvals. No amount of intimidation or harassment will stop us from engaging with the people. Lagos belongs to all of us, not a select few”, he wrote.
The opposition has long accused APC-led state governments of using security agencies to frustrate their activities. Tactics cited include sealing off venues, pressuring hotels to withdraw bookings, and demanding last-minute clearances for political events.
Analysts say the incidents in Lagos and Kaduna point to a pattern of intolerance as political tensions rise ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle. For the ADC and its allies, however, the clampdowns appear to have reinforced their determination to mobilise support across the country.
