Suspected political thugs on Friday disrupted a meeting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Young Women Forum in Alesa, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The forum had gathered for its inauguration when the assailants reportedly stormed the venue, scattering participants and vandalising items including canopies, chairs, and sound equipment, bringing the event to an abrupt end.
Eyewitnesses said the intruders claimed the organisers failed to obtain prior approval for the meeting, insisting that political activities in the area required clearance from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Efforts by organisers to explain the nature of the gathering were unsuccessful.
Reacting, the forum’s National Coordinator, Atosemi Oma-Uwame, condemned the disruption, describing it as an attempt to suppress political participation and silence opposition voices.
She maintained that the meeting was strictly for the inauguration of the forum in the local government and not a campaign event, adding that it was an internal engagement aimed at mobilising young women within the party.
Oma-Uwame further alleged that a ward councillor was among those involved in the disruption, citing claims that the organisers lacked approval from local authorities and objecting to the use of the party’s name.
Reaffirming the forum’s mission, she noted that the initiative is focused on increasing the participation of young women in politics and strengthening their representation within party structures.