Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has strongly criticised the Kaduna State Police Command for blocking a scheduled meeting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership, calling the move unconstitutional.
The planned gathering followed a violent attack last Saturday at the inauguration of an opposition coalition’s transition committee in Kaduna.
Suspected thugs armed with cutlasses, clubs, and stones disrupted the event, targeting members of the ADC, PDP, SDP, NNPP, and LP. Several people were injured and property was damaged. The police came under fire for failing to intervene.
At a press conference in Kaduna on Thursday, El-Rufai said the ADC’s North-West leaders had come to sympathise with local party members over the incident. The meeting was to take place at the ADC office until the Police Commissioner reportedly stopped it via a court order.
“He (the Police Commissioner) claimed to have a court order but failed to properly serve it,” El-Rufai stated. “Even if such an order exists, due process must be followed.”
Despite doubts over the legality of the police’s action, El-Rufai said party leaders decided not to force the issue. “We believe in the rule of law. Although we haven’t seen the order, we decided to respect the Commissioner’s word for now.”
He emphasised that the press briefing was held at his private residence to avoid confrontation with law enforcement, noting he had not lived there for 15 years as it was under renovation.
However, El-Rufai warned that the matter would not be dropped lightly. “We will challenge this. If necessary, we’ll take it to the Supreme Court. This isn’t the end.”
Efforts to get a response from Kaduna Police spokesman DSP Mansir Hassan were unsuccessful, as calls and messages went unanswered.
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