FG harassing opposition leaders -ADC

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused the federal government of alleged use of law enforcement agencies to harass and intimidate its leaders. The ADC, in a statement by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the recent summon of some of its leaders, including former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, by the police, is allegedly an assault on democracy. The party accused the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) of seemingly becoming a willing tool for political suppression, rather than focusing on rooting out bandits and other criminals across the country.

Said the ADC: “At a time when terrorists and criminal gangs freely operate in large parts of the North, the Nigerian Police Force appears more interested in silencing opposition leaders than protecting citizens. “After the recent attack in Kaduna, where the former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and other ADC leaders were attacked; in Kebbi, the convoy of former Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) was violently attacked in broad daylight around the GRA area of Birnin Kebbi – barely metres from a police outpost. Despite the seriousness of the attacks, no arrests have been made, and the perpetrators remain at large.

“This growing trend is disturbing, and all Nigerians should take note. In Kaduna, the police reportedly looked away as thugs, armed with stones and cutlasses attacked a peaceful ADC gathering. Instead of arresting those responsible, the police are now targeting the victims with summons.” Furthermore, the ADC stated: “To make matters worse, police authorities in Kaduna sealed off the ADC party offices ahead of a planned meeting of zonal leaders, a deliberate attempt to stifle our constitutional right to assemble and organise.

“The ADC wishes to place this on record: These acts by the police are not isolated. They represent a systematic attempt to criminalise opposition politics, especially in states where the ruling party feels threatened by the growing influence of the ADC.”