The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has challenged Senator Ali Ndume to provide evidence supporting his allegation that the party sponsored thugs to disrupt an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Gwoza, Borno State.
The party dismissed the allegation as baseless, insisting that its political engagements across communities in the state had been peaceful.
In a statement, the Director of the Borno ADC Campaign Council, Bukar Bukar-Petrol, said the party was not involved in any act of violence or attempt to disrupt the APC rally.
He reportedly made the clarification during an interview with Channels Television on Monday.
The ADC said its activities, including engagements around the Emir’s palace, Paula, internally displaced persons’ camps and other communities, had been conducted peacefully and within the limits of democratic participation.
Bukar-Petrol said the party’s attention was drawn to comments attributed to Ndume, who allegedly claimed that ADC-sponsored thugs disrupted an APC rally in Gwoza.
He challenged the senator to produce verifiable evidence, including an official police report, rather than make allegations without proof.
“The ADC Campaign Council, Borno State, wishes to clearly dissociate itself from any act of violence, civil disorder or activity capable of undermining peace and security in Gwoza or any other part of Borno State,” the statement said.
The party maintained that its engagements with residents across the state had remained orderly and peaceful.
Bukar-Petrol also argued that the growing interest in the ADC reflected public demand for an alternative political platform, which he linked to concerns about the APC’s performance and the representation of constituents.
He said dissatisfaction with elected officials should be understood as part of democratic choice and political competition, rather than blamed on opposition parties.
“Any dissatisfaction or declining public confidence in elected representatives is a consequence of the people’s assessment of their leadership and cannot legitimately be attributed to the ADC,” he added.
The party reiterated its rejection of violence and called on Ndume to substantiate his allegation with credible evidence.
