The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected claims by the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) that it was behind the recent shooting involving members of the latter in Edo State.

In a statement released on Thursday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party accused the ADC of prematurely blaming it for the incident, even before the conclusion of police investigations.

The controversy followed a shooting on Tuesday in Benin City, the Edo State capital, during a political gathering. Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi was present, alongside former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun and other political figures, to attend an event at the ADC secretariat. The rally was organized to formally welcome former Edo governorship candidate Olumide Akpata, who recently defected from the Labour Party to the ADC.

Reports indicate that suspected armed hoodlums opened fire as the politicians and their supporters were leaving the secretariat and heading towards Odigie-Oyegun’s residence. Gunfire reportedly damaged vehicles and parts of nearby property.

In response, the ADC issued a statement on 25 February alleging that the APC was responsible for the attack.

The APC dismissed the claim as “utterly delusional” and a violation of due process. Mr. Morka described the opposition party as “its own nemesis,” accusing it of assuming the roles of “accuser, investigator, prosecutor, and judge” by publicly indicting the ruling party without waiting for law enforcement findings.

He further argued that such conduct raises questions about the ADC’s capacity to handle national security challenges, noting that a party unable to manage internal disputes with maturity could not be entrusted with governance responsibilities.

The APC also criticized the ADC’s characterization of the incident as “acts of terrorism by the ruling APC,” calling the description reckless and insensitive, particularly in the context of ongoing national security operations.

“Make no mistake, violence of any kind in our political space is unacceptable and must be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians. Our great party roundly condemns the reported shooting incident in Edo State,” the statement said, urging police and other security agencies to conduct a swift investigation and bring those responsible to justice.

In a controversial twist, the APC suggested that investigators should also examine internal ADC conflicts, citing reports of clashes among rival factions within the opposition party. Mr. Morka alleged that the ADC was attempting to deflect attention from its internal disputes by blaming the APC.

“The ADC cannot smear our great party with a violent incident of its own exclusive making,” he said.

Denying any involvement, the APC spokesperson emphasized that the party remains focused on consolidating recent electoral successes, including victories in municipal elections in the Federal Capital Territory and constituency elections in Rivers and Kano States. He described the ADC as a fringe platform struggling with poor electoral performance, and reaffirmed the APC’s commitment to delivering prosperity and stability under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.