Friday, in Alesa, Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State, a gathering of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Young Women Forum was interrupted by individuals suspected of being political thugs.
Assailants broke into the site during the group’s forum inauguration, scattering guests and trashing canopies, speakers, and chairs, among other things. The interruption caused the gathering to conclude suddenly.
Eyewitnesses said the intruders said the planners didn’t have the necessary consent from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the gathering, claiming the organisers hadn’t gotten prior authority. The assailants ended the gathering even though its organisers tried to explain its point.
In response to the event, Atosemi Oma-Uwame, the national coordinator of the forum, denounced the move, calling it an attempt to curb political engagement and silence critics.
She clarified that the event was an internal party engagement for young women and that its main goal was to launch the forum’s presence in the local government, not for campaigning.
In addition, Oma-Uwame disclosed that a ward councillor was among the disruptors; this councillor had previously complained that the event’s organisers had not obtained necessary permissions from the relevant authorities and had also objected to the use of the party’s name.
Additionally, she mentioned that she had previously received warnings about the location of the meeting being held under the party’s platform.
She restated the goal of the forum, saying that it is to increase the number of young women participating in politics and to increase their visibility within party institutions.
She made it clear that the group isn’t a feminist movement, but rather a platform that encourages people who are interested in gender inclusion in politics to join the party and run for elective posts in a legal and fair way.