By Muhammad Mamman
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Kaduna State Police Command of bias and dereliction of duty in its handling of the violent disruption of the party’s inauguration in Kaduna. Party members were allegedly attacked by armed thugs during the event.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the venue for the meeting had been duly booked and that the party expected the police to offer reassurance that justice would be served.
“Instead of a firm commitment to hold perpetrators accountable, the police statement appeared to criminalise legitimate political activity, prejudge individuals, and portray the opposition as lawless,” Abdullahi said.
He faulted the Kaduna police for linking the ADC to “political gangsters” even while acknowledging that an investigation into the incident had only just begun. “Investigations should establish facts before conclusions are drawn. When police act as judge and jury, it undermines both justice and democracy,” he added.
Abdullahi also dismissed police claims that the gathering was “unauthorised,” stressing that in a democracy, the constitutional right to peaceful assembly does not require police permission. “A police notification is a matter of courtesy and procedure, not a licence to exercise a right guaranteed by the Constitution,” he argued.
The ADC spokesperson further criticised the blanket suspension of “unauthorised gatherings” announced by the Kaduna command, describing it as a dangerous overreach. “Security agencies are meant to protect lawful assemblies, not proscribe them. To arrogate to themselves the power to decide which political meetings may hold is to hand the police veto authority over democracy itself,” he warned.
Rejecting attempts to link the party to violence, Abdullahi reaffirmed the ADC’s commitment to peaceful and issue-based politics. He urged the Kaduna police to review their statement, ensure a transparent investigation, and explain why officers were absent when ADC members and leaders came under attack.
