Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed strong disapproval of the police’s recent decision to block a scheduled meeting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state. El-Rufai, who was addressing a press conference on Thursday, argued that the police action violated constitutional rights and called it an overreach of authority.
The planned meeting was to bring together ADC leaders from the North-West region, following an attack on party members during an opposition gathering on Saturday. During the event, thugs reportedly stormed the venue, armed with cutlasses, clubs, and stones, injuring several participants and destroying property. The police’s response to the violence drew criticism for failing to intervene effectively.
El-Rufai condemned the attack, describing it as a “dangerous descent into lawlessness.” He stressed that political gatherings should proceed without interference, as guaranteed by the Constitution. He explained that the ADC leadership in the region was set to visit the state to express solidarity with party members affected by the attack.
However, the state’s Commissioner of Police issued an order preventing the meeting from taking place. El-Rufai noted that the police had claimed to have obtained a court injunction to halt the gathering, but he said that the party had not been served with any formal notice. “He [the police commissioner] knows what he’s writing violates the Constitution,” El-Rufai stated, adding that the police had not followed proper legal procedures in issuing the injunction.
El-Rufai maintained that although the ADC leadership had the right to hold the meeting regardless of the order, they chose to respect the police commissioner’s position. “We believe the commissioner of police could not be lying,” he said, despite the alleged irregularities. He revealed that the meeting would be held at his private residence instead, to avoid confrontation with security forces. He also emphasized that the residence had been under renovation for 15 years.
The former governor made it clear that the matter would not end with this incident. “This is not the end of it. Other things will follow after this,” he said, hinting at a possible legal challenge. He further stressed that the ADC would await formal delivery of the injunction before deciding on the next steps.
The Kaduna Police Command has yet to respond to requests for comment on the issue. Efforts to reach the police’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages went unanswered.
