The African Democratic Congress has condemned the harassment and attack on its leaders, including a former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai and erstwhile attorney general of the federation, Abubakar Malami.
The party noted that the incidents were dangerous signs of democracy.
In a statement on Friday, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi described the trend as disturbing, accusing the Nigerian police of being used as tool to stifle and silence opposition.
The statement stated, “At a time when terrorists and criminal gangs freely operate in large parts of the North, the Nigerian Police appear more interested in silencing opposition leaders than protecting citizens. After the recent attack in Kaduna, where a former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and other ADC leaders were attacked; in Kebbi State, the convoy of a former Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), was violently attacked in broad daylight around the GRA area of Birnin Kebbi—barely meters from a police outpost.
“Despite the seriousness of the attack, no arrests have been made, and the perpetrators remain at large. This growing trend is disturbing — and all Nigerians should take note.”
The ADC faulted the sealing of its zonal offices in Kaduna State by the police, describing the development as a deliberate attempt to stifle its leaders’ constitutional right to assemble and organize.
It noted, “To make matters worse, police authorities in Kaduna sealed off the ADC party offices ahead of a planned meeting of zonal leaders—a deliberate attempt to stifle our constitutional right to assemble and organize. The ADC wishes to place this on record: These acts by the police are not isolated. They represent a systematic attempt to criminalize opposition politics, especially in states where the ruling party feels threatened by the growing influence of the ADC,” the party noted.
Demanding immediate withdrawal of summons issued to Mr El-Rufai and other members of the party, the ADC urged the security agencies to arrest and prosecute those behind the attack on Mr Malami’s convoy.
The party also demanded “the police authorities to unseal the ADC office in Kaduna state and stop the illegal obstruction of lawful political activity.’’
It urged the federal government “to redirect the focus of the Nigeria Police toward their primary duty—protecting the lives and property of all Nigerians— instead of being used as a tool of political manipulation.”
