The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has denounced the Kaduna State Police Command’s response to the violent disruption of its inauguration meeting in Kaduna. The event, which took place over the weekend, was marred by armed thugs who left several party members injured.
In a statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the police of attempting to “criminalize legitimate political activity” rather than protecting citizens. The ADC claimed that it had properly secured the venue and warned against using security agencies to intimidate opposition groups.
The police had issued a press release on the incident, which the ADC said was troubling as it attempted to pre-judge individuals and cast the opposition in a negative light. The party took issue with the police linking it to “political gangsters” while investigations were still ongoing, stating that this contradiction exposed the statement as more political than professional.
The ADC rejected the police claim that the gathering was “unauthorized,” insisting that the right to assemble peacefully is guaranteed by the constitution. The party argued that a police notification is a matter of procedure and courtesy, not a license to exercise a constitutional right.
The ADC also described the threat to hold hotels and event centers “liable” for hosting political meetings without police approval as intimidation. This, the party said, would effectively deny opposition parties access to spaces for lawful activity and undermine democracy.
The Kaduna police had announced the suspension of “unauthorized gatherings,” which the ADC said was an overreach. The party demanded a transparent investigation and accountability from the police, calling on them to revisit their statement and explain why their officers allegedly abandoned their duty when ADC leaders and members came under attack.
The ADC remains committed to peaceful, issue-based politics and has warned against selective policing, stating that “democracy is not a crime” and that the party will not be intimidated into silence. The party has called on Nigerians to reject any form of intimidation and to continue defending democracy.
