The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Kaduna State Police Command for its response to the violent disruption of the party’s inauguration in the state, where members were reportedly attacked by armed thugs.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed disappointment over the police reaction, noting that the venue for the event had been lawfully secured.
Abdullahi said the party had expected a firm commitment from the command to ensure justice and hold perpetrators accountable, but instead, the police statement appeared to criminalise legitimate political activity.
“What we saw was a disturbing attempt to prejudge individuals and portray the opposition as lawless,” Abdullahi said.
He faulted the police for linking ADC to “political gangsters” while at the same time claiming to have launched an investigation. According to him, such conclusions should only come after facts have been established.
“When the police act as both judge and jury, it erodes confidence in justice and undermines democracy,” he warned.
Abdullahi also rejected the claim that the ADC gathering was “unauthorised,” stressing that in a democracy, the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by the Constitution and not subject to approval by the police.
“Police notification is a matter of courtesy and procedure, not a license to exercise a constitutional right. No democracy thrives when access to venues is determined by the whims of security agencies,” he said.
The party spokesman equally condemned the blanket suspension of “unauthorised gatherings” announced by the police, describing it as an abuse of power.
“Security agencies exist to protect lawful assemblies, not to ban them. Granting the police the power to decide which meetings can hold is tantamount to giving them veto authority over democracy,” Abdullahi said.
He declared that the ADC would not accept any attempt by the Kaduna police to associate the party with acts of violence it neither organised nor condones, stressing that the ADC remains committed to peaceful, issue-based politics.
The party called on the command to retract its statement, conduct a transparent investigation, and explain why its officers failed to protect ADC members during the attack.
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