The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the police response to the Kaduna ADC meeting disruption last weekend.
According to the party, armed thugs attacked members during its inauguration meeting in Kaduna, leaving several individuals injured.
In a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC accused the police of politicising security.
Furthermore, the party said security agencies appeared more interested in intimidating the opposition than protecting innocent citizens.
The ADC faulted the Kaduna police press release on the Kaduna ADC meeting disruption as biased and troubling.
Instead of reassuring the public, the statement allegedly attempted to criminalise legitimate political activity and opposition members.
Abdullahi argued that police should first conduct proper investigations before drawing conclusions about political gatherings.
Therefore, he stressed that acting as both “judge and jury” undermines democratic rights and erodes public trust in law enforcement.
The ADC rejected the claim that the Kaduna meeting was “unauthorised,” insisting peaceful assembly is a constitutional right.
Moreover, the party explained that police notification is merely procedural, not a license to exercise basic freedoms.
It also criticised threats against hotels and event centres for hosting gatherings without prior police approval.
According to the ADC, such threats amount to intimidation, ultimately denying the opposition access to lawful political spaces.
On the suspension of “unauthorised gatherings,” the ADC said Kaduna police had clearly overreached their legal authority.
Security agencies, it argued, are mandated to protect lawful assemblies, not proscribe them or dictate political activities.
Additionally, the party described the police statement as political, warning against selective policing and intimidation of opponents.
As a result, the ADC demanded a transparent investigation into the attack and police conduct during the violent disruption.
ADC Demands Justice and Accountability
The ADC insisted democracy is not a crime and selective policing cannot be tolerated in a constitutional democracy.
Therefore, it demanded accountability and urged citizens to resist intimidation while defending democratic freedoms nationwide.
“Our party remains committed to peaceful, issue-based politics,” Abdullahi declared in the statement.
He added that opposition parties would not be silenced, despite continuous threats from security agencies and armed thugs.
