The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned what it describes as the systematic criminalisation of opposition voices by the Nigerian police, following a recent incident in Kaduna State.
The party’s outrage follows reports that some of its members were assaulted on Saturday by armed thugs during a scheduled event in Kaduna, while police officers allegedly stood by without intervening.
In a statement released on Sunday, ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi criticised the Kaduna State Police Command for issuing a press release that not only failed to promise justice but also appeared to blame the victims.
“When the police should have been assuring citizens that those behind the violence would be brought to justice, they instead attempted to paint legitimate political activity as criminal,” the statement read. “This approach undermines both justice and democracy.”
The ADC expressed dismay over the police’s characterization of its gathering as “unauthorised,” stressing that the venue had been duly booked and that peaceful assembly is a constitutional right—not a privilege granted at the discretion of the police.
Abdullahi added, “To suggest that our right to gather hinges on police approval is to erode the very foundation of democracy. Security agencies are meant to safeguard lawful assemblies, not proscribe them.”
The party also raised concerns about what it described as “dangerous intimidation tactics,” including threats to hold hotels and event centres liable for hosting political gatherings without police clearance.
“This is a veiled attempt to shut out opposition parties from engaging with the public by denying them access to venues,” the statement continued. “No democracy can thrive when security agencies decide who gets to speak and where.”
Condemning what it called a blanket ban on “unauthorised” political gatherings in Kaduna, the ADC asserted that such overreach gives the police undue power to act as gatekeepers of democratic participation.
The party firmly denied any involvement in violence and accused the Kaduna State Police Command of trying to link its name to political thuggery without evidence.
“Our party stands for peaceful, issue-based politics. We demand an immediate retraction of the police’s misleading statement, a transparent investigation, and accountability for officers who failed in their duty to protect our members,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC concluded by urging Nigerians to reject the increasing pattern of violence and intimidation allegedly orchestrated by the ruling APC to silence dissent.
“Democracy is not a crime. Selective policing is,” the party said. “We will not be intimidated into silence.”
