Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has strongly criticized the Kaduna State Police Command for halting a scheduled meeting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) North-West leadership, describing the move as a violation of constitutional rights and a dangerous precedent for democratic engagement.
Speaking at a press briefing held at his private residence in Kaduna, El-Rufai expressed deep concern over what he termed “a dangerous descent into lawlessness,” following the police commissioner’s decision to block the gathering intended to commiserate with ADC members after a violent attack on an opposition coalition event last Saturday.
“The police commissioner wrote to say that we can’t hold the meeting in the state,” El-Rufai stated. “He knows what he’s writing violates the Constitution. We have not seen the court order he claims to have obtained, and it has not been properly served on us.”
Despite asserting their constitutional right to assemble, El-Rufai said ADC leaders chose to respect the police directive to avoid confrontation, but emphasized that the matter would not be left unchallenged.
“We want to see that injunction. We want to see the grounds. And of course, we will challenge whatever grounds to the Supreme Court,” he declared.
The former governor also accused the police of failing to act during the violent disruption of the ADC coalition meeting, where suspected thugs armed with cutlasses and clubs attacked participants, injuring several and destroying property. He further alleged that the attackers were government-sponsored and that law enforcement provided cover for the assault.