The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Federal Government of deploying the Nigeria Police Force as a tool to intimidate opposition leaders rather than focusing on the fight against insecurity.
In a statement on Friday, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the police summons issued to former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, as politically driven and “an assault not just on individual politicians, but on Nigeria’s democracy itself.”
“At a time when terrorists and criminal gangs freely operate in large parts of the North, the Nigerian Police appears more interested in silencing opposition leaders than protecting citizens,” the statement read.
The ADC also condemned the recent attack on the convoy of former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, in Birnin Kebbi, which left several party members injured. The incident, which occurred in broad daylight near a police outpost, reportedly saw no intervention and has yet to result in any arrests.
In Kaduna, the party alleged that police officers failed to act when thugs armed with stones and cutlasses attacked a peaceful ADC gathering. Instead, victims, including El-Rufai, were summoned by the police.
“Every hour spent harassing El-Rufai and shutting down ADC offices is an hour not spent confronting the terrorists and criminals destroying lives across the North, and the urban bandits destroying the nation,” Abdullahi warned.
The party also decried the sealing of its Kaduna offices ahead of a planned zonal meeting, describing it as a calculated attempt to frustrate its organisational activities. According to the ADC, these incidents form part of a broader strategy to “criminalize opposition politics” in regions where its influence threatens the ruling party.
The ADC demanded that the Inspector General of Police withdraw the summons against its leaders, unseal its Kaduna offices, and reveal those who filed the petitions that led to the investigations.
“These invitations are not about justice or security, they are about silencing dissent and should therefore be halted without delay,” the statement said.
The party further demanded the arrest and prosecution of those behind the Kebbi and Kaduna attacks, as well as disciplinary measures against officers who failed to act.
“Those who stood by and allowed political violence to occur should not be wearing the uniform of the Nigerian state,” the ADC declared.
It urged the Federal Government to redirect the police towards their constitutional duty of safeguarding lives and property, warning that intimidation would not deter its members.
“Our party will stand with our leaders and members. We will not be intimidated,” Abdullahi said.
What You Should Know
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), one of Nigeria’s opposition parties, is accusing the Federal Government of weaponising the police to weaken opposition politics.
The clash comes amid rising insecurity across northern Nigeria, with the ADC insisting that energy should be directed at fighting terrorists and criminals instead of silencing dissent.
