Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai strongly condemned a police order barring a meeting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), arguing it infringed on constitutional rights and lacked legal merit.
El-Rufai—speaking from his residence in Kaduna—revealed that ADC North-West leaders had planned to convene for a solidarity visit following a violent attack on party officials last Saturday.
However, the Kaduna commissioner of police intervened, allegedly citing a court injunction. El-Rufai stated: “We have not been served with any court order, and even if it exists, it was not properly served,” calling the move unconstitutional.
He described the violence from suspected thugs at the earlier event as a “dangerous descent into lawlessness”, blaming the disruption on systemic failures by law enforcement. Despite rejecting the ban, ADC leaders chose to respect the police position temporarily, while El-Rufai vowed to escalate the matter legally.
El-Rufai also accused the Kaduna State Government of orchestrating the attack, alleging that police inaction served as protection for the perpetrators. He has reportedly petitioned the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Service Commission for intervention.
Kaduna State Police was not available for comment when contacted. However, the ADC has since distanced itself from the inauguration-like event, calling it unauthorized. Police have confirmed probes into political violence linked to the gathering.
