ADC fumes over police reaction to attacks on members in Kaduna

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described police reaction to violent disruption of the inauguration of its Kaduna chapter by thugs over the weekend as a troubling attempt to criminalize legitimate political activity, prejudge individuals, and cast the opposition in the light of lawlessness.

The ADC, in statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja while accusing police of apportioning blames for the violence at the venue of the inauguration before they carried out investigation of the incident.

The ADC spokesperson, said the party had expected the Kaduna State Police Command’s statement to reassure Nigerians that justice would be served and that those responsible for the violence would be held accountable.

“Instead, what we read was a troubling attempt to criminalise legitimate political activity, prejudge individuals, and cast the opposition in the light of lawlessness,” he said.

He noted that the police statement linked the ADC to “political gangsters” even while stating that it had commenced an extensive investigation into the alleged political violence.

Abdullahi said that investigations should establish facts before conclusions were drawn, adding that “when police act as judge and jury, it undermines both justice and democracy

He noted that first, the police statement rushed to link the ADC to “political gangsters” even while stating that it has commenced an extensive investigation into the alleged political violence.

Abdullahi said that investigations should establish facts before conclusions were drawn; noting “when police act as judge and jury, it undermines both justice and democracy.”

He also faulted the claims by the Kaduna police that the ADC gathering was “unauthorised” , saying in a democracy, the right to assemble peacefully is guaranteed by the Constitution, not a State Police Command.

He said that a police notification was a matter of procedure and often courtesy, not a license to exercise a right that had been granted by the constitution.

He said that no democracy thrives where access to public or private venues is determined by the whims of security agencies under any guise.

Abdullahi also faulted the blanket suspension of “unauthorised gatherings” as declared by the Kaduna police command in its statement, as clear overreach.

“Security agencies are to protect lawful assemblies, not proscribe them.

“To arrogate to themselves the power to decide which political meetings may hold is to hand the police veto authority over democracy itself.

“In this regard, the ADC rejects all attempts by the Kaduna state police command to drag our name into acts of violence that we neither organised nor condone.

“Our party remains committed to peaceful, issue-based politics” he said.

“Our party remains committed to peaceful, issue-based politics,” he said.

Abdullahi called on the command to immediately review its statement, conduct a transparent investigation, and explain why its officers were not on duty when ADC leaders and members were attacked.(NAN)