A maiden meeting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Young Women Forum in Eleme Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State was violently disrupted on Friday by suspected political thugs. The incident, which took place in Alesa Eleme, saw the attackers storm the venue, disperse attendees, and destroy valuable property including canopies, loudspeakers, and chairs.

According to reports, the assailants justified their actions by claiming that the organizers had failed to obtain prior approval for the gathering. Some sources indicated that the thugs, allegedly led by a ward councillor (whose name was withheld), insisted that political activities required clearance and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had not authorized such events. The councillor reportedly claimed that approval from his office was necessary, despite the organizers' assertion that it was a gathering of young women, not a campaign.

Ms. Atosemi Oma-Uwame, the National Coordinator of the ADC Young Women’s Forum, strongly condemned the disruption. She described the attack as a calculated and deliberate attempt to suppress democratic engagement, intimidate opposition parties, and stifle political participation ahead of upcoming elections. Oma-Uwame clarified that the meeting was intended to inaugurate and mobilize young women within the ADC party structure in her Eleme constituency, not to host a campaign rally. She further revealed that she had received prior warnings against organizing any event under her party’s platform in the area, suggesting a pattern of targeted suppression against the ADC.

Oma-Uwame emphasized the critical role of the forum, which was organized in collaboration with The Atosemi Movement (TAM). She stated that the platform aims to promote grassroots mobilization among women, encourage young women's participation in politics, and advance shared goals to achieve greater gender balance within the party. She urged young women not to shy away from politics, stressing that they should actively engage, obtain party forms, and contest for positions, rather than waiting for men to grant them their rights. The forum, she clarified, is not a feminist movement but a dedicated effort to foster political inclusion and empowerment for women within the ADC.