The African Democratic Congress (ADC) senatorial candidate for Ekiti North, Funso Ayeni, and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) House of Representatives candidate for Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency, Ayodele David-Adesua, have condemned the reported attack and destruction of Ayeni’s campaign office in Ido Ekiti.
The candidates called on security agencies to investigate the incident and establish the circumstances surrounding the damage, while urging political parties, candidates and supporters to shun violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The campaign office, located in Ido Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti North Senatorial District, was inaugurated last Thursday.
Ayeni, who inspected the damaged office on Saturday, said political disagreements should not degenerate into intimidation, violence or destruction of property.
“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,” he said.
He urged the relevant law enforcement authorities to investigate the incident and establish the facts.
According to him, political campaigns should focus on ideas, programmes, records and the service candidates intend to provide to the people rather than attacks on political opponents or their properties.
“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,” Ayeni said.
The ADC candidate also appealed to his supporters to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
He said he would continue to advocate a peaceful, issue-based and responsible political environment 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,” he said.
In a solidarity statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, David-Adesua expressed concern over the reported destruction of the campaign office and joined the call for a thorough investigation.
“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,” he said.
David-Adesua described the incident as political intolerance and vandalism and urged security agencies to conduct an impartial and transparent investigation and bring anyone found responsible to justice.
He further appealed to political parties, candidates, supporters and youths in Ekiti North to conduct their campaigns peacefully.
“Let us campaign with decorum. Let us sell our manifestos and allow Ekiti people to decide freely,” he said.
The NDC candidate said the 2027 contest should focus on issues such as jobs, security, education, agriculture and infrastructure rather than violence and destruction.
“We may belong to different political parties, but we are not enemies. We are brothers and sisters contesting to serve the same people,” David-Adesua stated.
He added that political contests would eventually end, while the people of Ekiti North would continue to live together, urging all political actors to make tolerance their watchword before, during and after the election.
