ADC accuses Police of bias, harassment of opposition leaders

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Nigeria Police Force of a systematic campaign to “criminalize opposition politics,” claiming that security agencies are more focused on harassing political opponents than on protecting citizens from insecurity.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC highlighted two recent incidents to support its claims. The first was a violent attack on a party gathering in Kaduna, which included former Governor Nasir El-Rufai

The ADC alleged that while the police “looked away” as thugs attacked with stones and cutlasses, they are now targeting the victims with summons instead of arresting the perpetrators.

The party also reported that police authorities sealed off its Kaduna office ahead of a planned meeting, which it called a deliberate attempt to stifle the right to assembly.

The second incident cited by the ADC was a daylight attack on the convoy of former Minister of Justice and ADC leader, Abubakar Malami, in Birnin Kebbi. The party expressed dismay that despite the attack occurring near a police outpost, no arrests have been made.

“Every hour spent harassing El-Rufai and shutting down ADC offices is an hour not spent confronting the terrorists and criminals destroying lives across the North,” the statement read.

The ADC has called on the Federal Government and the Inspector General of Police to immediately withdraw what it describes as “politically motivated summons” issued to El-Rufai and other party leaders.

The party also demanded that the police unseal its Kaduna office, arrest the perpetrators of the attacks on El-Rufai and Malami, and conduct an internal investigation into officers who failed to act

The ADC vowed it will not be intimidated and will stand with its members.

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