2027: Ekiti ADC, NDC candidates condemn attack on campaign office

The African Democratic Congress senatorial candidate for Ekiti North, Funso Ayeni, has condemned the attack on his campaign office in Ido Ekiti and called for a police investigation.

The National Democratic Congress House of Representatives candidate for Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency, Ayodele David-Adesua, also condemned the attack.

The campaign office, located in Ido Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti North Senatorial District, was inaugurated last Thursday.

Ayeni, who spoke on Saturday during an assessment visit to the damaged office, urged law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident and establish the circumstances surrounding the attack.

The candidates, who urged political tolerance ahead of the 2027 general elections, said politics should be a contest of ideas and issues rather than a basis for violence, destruction and intimidation.

He said, “I am here today not only to inspect the damaged office, but to draw attention to a development that should concern every peace-loving citizen of Ekiti State, particularly those in Ekiti North Senatorial District.

“Whatever the circumstances surrounding the damage to this office, political disagreement must never become a pathway to destruction, intimidation or violence. I believe Ekiti must not walk the road of political violence.

Ekiti State is too knowledgeable, too educated and too politically conscious to allow such a culture to take place. I, therefore, call on the relevant security and law enforcement authorities to investigate what happened here and establish the facts.

Political competition should be about ideas, programmes, records and the service we are about to offer our people, not the destruction of one’s property or another person’s political office.

“I will continue to advocate a peaceful, issue-based and responsible political environment in Ekiti North and across Ekiti State.

“We can disagree without destroying. Let us compete without violence and ensure that the 2027 political season is remembered for ideas and accountability, and not intimidation, destruction or bloodshed.”

Ayeni appealed to his supporters across the senatorial district to remain calm and not take the law into their own hands despite the provocation.

In a solidarity statement made available in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, David-Adesua expressed concern over the destruction of Ayeni’s campaign office.

He said, “My sympathy is with Dr Ayeni and the ADC family in Ekiti State. What affects one of us affects all of us in Ekiti North. We need peace to win together.

“I condemn in totality this act of political intolerance, vandalism and destruction. This is unacceptable, undemocratic and alien to the peace-loving nature of Ekiti people.

“I, therefore, join the ADC in calling on all relevant security agencies to carry out a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation into this incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

David-Adesua also called on political parties, candidates, supporters and youths in Ekiti North to embrace peace.

“Let us campaign with decorum. Let us sell our manifestos and allow Ekiti people to decide freely.

“Elections must be a contest of ideas, policies, character and capacity to deliver, not a contest of violence, intimidation and destruction of property.

“We may belong to different political parties, but we are not enemies. We are brothers and sisters contesting to serve the same people.

“Politics should build, not destroy. Campaigns should be about issues that affect our people, jobs, security, education, agriculture and infrastructure in Ekiti North—not about attacking opponents.

Tolerance must be our watchword before, during and after the general election. Elections will come and go, but Ekiti North will remain our home,” the NDC candidate stated.