“The government must send a clear message that Cross River will not become a theatre of political violence ahead of 2027. The security agencies must investigate this incident professionally and transparently, and the public deserves to know what happened and who was responsible.
By TheInvestigator
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Cross River State, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, has condemned the reported attack on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consultative meetings in Calabar South, describing the incident as a dangerous assault on democratic participation and a troubling warning ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement signed by her spokesman, Mr Archibong Eyo, the act was strongly condemned. Fuming, she said, “The reported violence, in which gunshots were allegedly fired, persons injured and vehicles reportedly vandalised during political consultations on October 2, must not be treated as another routine political dispute. Political disagreements are legitimate; shooting, intimidation, destruction of property and the use of violence to disrupt political activities are not.”
Ambassador Toyo calls on the Cross River State Government and all security agencies to act immediately and decisively. “The Police Command must conduct a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation, identify those responsible, establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and ensure that anyone found culpable faces the full weight of the law, regardless of political affiliation or status,” the ADC gubernatorial candidate said.
Furthermore, she said, “We cannot build a democratic society where political meetings are met with gunfire and intimidation. Cross River belongs to all of us. No political party, candidate or individual has the right to determine who can meet, campaign, organise or express a political opinion through violence.
“The government must send a clear message that Cross River will not become a theatre of political violence ahead of 2027. The security agencies must investigate this incident professionally and transparently, and the public deserves to know what happened and who was responsible.
“Today it is the PDP. Tomorrow it could be the ADC, APC, Labour Party or any other political organisation. Silence in the face of political violence creates the conditions for its expansion.”
Ambassador Toyo further urged political parties and their supporters to reject retaliation and allow law-enforcement authorities to investigate the incident. She stressed that political competition must be settled through ideas, votes and peaceful democratic engagement, not guns, thugs or intimidation.
She also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organisations and other stakeholders to pay closer attention to emerging threats to political participation in the state and strengthen mechanisms for documenting and responding to political violence ahead of the 2027 elections.
In her words, “The people of Cross River deserve an election environment where candidates can meet voters without fear, parties can organise freely, and citizens can make political choices without intimidation.
“We therefore demand action, not excuses. We demand investigation, not political cover. And where criminal responsibility is established, we demand prosecution, not negotiation. Cross River must not return to the politics of fear. Democracy must remain bigger than any individual, party or ambition.”
