•Tinubu, ADC logo and Atiku
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition today flayed the federal government over police harrassment of opposition leaders.
The ADC, which cautioned the police to leave the party alone and face the bandits disturbing the peace of the nation, condemned the politically motivated police summons issued to former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, as well as the shocking attack on the former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami’s convoy in Kebbi State, which left many party members injured and terrified.
This is even as it was alleged that the President Bola Ahmed TInubu led All Progressives Congress (APC) government has tightened the noose against the smooth take-off of the Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola new leadership of the ADC, reports Daily Independent.
Describing the Police harassment of El-Rufai and attack on Malami as dangerous signs for democracy, ADC, in a statement in Abuja by its spokesman, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed grave concern over the increasing use of law enforcement agencies to harass and intimidate opposition leaders, while criminal violence continues to devastate communities across the country.
The party, which condemned the politically motivated police summons issued to El-Rufai and the attack on Malami’s convoy in Kebbi State, described these developments as an assault not just on individual politicians, but on Nigeria’s democracy itself.
The party warned that the Nigeria Police Force has seemingly become a willing tool of political suppression for the federal government rather than a national security department, that is truly focused on rooting out bandits and other criminals across the country.
The party said that at a time when terrorists and criminal gangs freely operate in large parts of the North, the Nigerian Police 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 meters from a police outpost. Despite the seriousness of the attack, 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.
“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, and the urban bandits destroying the nation.
“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 criminalize opposition politics, especially in states where the ruling party feels threatened by the growing influence of the ADC,” the party said.
The ADC, has therefore called on the federal government and the Inspector General of Police to immediately withdraw the politically motivated summons issued to Nasir El-Rufai and other ADC leaders in Kaduna State, adding that the invitations are not about justice or security, they are about silencing dissent and should therefore be halted without delay.
The party demanded that the police authorities unseal the ADC office in Kaduna State, and stop the illegal obstruction of lawful political activity, stressing that no democracy can thrive where opposition party structures are routinely shut down under vague pretexts.
According to ADC, the Nigeria Police must also publish the names of those who filed complaints that triggered the recent investigations and summons.
The party said that the public deserves to know who is behind the attacks on political freedom, and what interests they serve.
“We further demand that security agencies arrest and prosecute those responsible for the attack on Abubakar Malami’s convoy in Kebbi State, as well as the violent thugs who disrupted our stakeholders’ meeting in Kaduna. The failure to bring these perpetrators to justice only emboldens further violence.
“In addition, we call for an internal disciplinary process within the police to investigate officers who were present during these incidents but failed to act. Those who stood by and allowed political violence to occur should not be wearing the uniform of the Nigerian state.
“We urge the federal government to redirect the focus of the Nigeria Police toward their primary duty—protecting the lives and property of all Nigerians— instead of being used as a tool of political manipulation. Our party will stand with our leaders and members. We will not be intimidated,” ADC said.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that at least about 15 court cases have been lined up against the ADC leadership ostensibly to frustrate them.
The cases, it was further gathered, are expected to be given accelerated hearings when the Judiciary resumes from annual recess on September 28, 2025 .
Part of the strategy is to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the new leadership.
Already, INEC had rejected the application for the recognition of the new leadership on account of alleged irregular signatures even when all conditions and documents have been perfected .
The cases will roll in from September 28, 2025 when the Courts resume from recess.
This was even as it was learnt that leaders and promoters of the new ADC have been targeted for attacks to intimidate them ahead of the 2027 polls.
