ADC condemns attempted arrest of El-Rufai

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has denounced the attempted arrest of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing it as a troubling sign of rising political intimidation and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic values.

In a statement issued Friday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said: “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) strongly condemns the attempt by security operatives to arrest the former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, at the airport under circumstances that raise serious constitutional and democratic concerns.”

The incident reportedly occurred Thursday at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, when armed operatives allegedly tried to detain El-Rufai shortly after his arrival.

The ADC accused the government of selective enforcement in its anti-corruption campaign, arguing that opposition figures face harassment while politically exposed individuals are welcomed into the ruling party. “While the ADC maintains its position that no individual is above the law, we state without equivocation that the law must never be weaponised against political opponents,” Abdullahi said.

He further warned: “Reports indicate that security operatives lay in wait for Mallam El-Rufai at the airport with the apparent intention to effect an arrest, yet no warrant was presented at the time of the attempted action. If confirmed, this represents not merely a procedural lapse but a dangerous signal that due process is being treated as optional when opposition figures are involved.”

The party argued that such practices erode public trust in the rule of law and weaken democratic institutions. “Accountability must be even-handed, due process must be visible, and justice must never wear partisan colours,” the statement added.

The ADC urged security agencies to uphold their constitutional responsibilities and resist being used for partisan ends. “The APC-led government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must understand that the strength of a democracy is measured not by how it treats its allies, but by how it treats its critics,” Abdullahi said.

The party vowed to continue monitoring developments closely, insisting that political competition in Nigeria must be resolved through persuasion and the ballot, not selective law enforcement.

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