The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sternly condemned the attempted arrest of a former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing the incident as a troubling sign of rising political threat to Nigeria’s democratic norms.
Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, cautioned in a statement on Friday that if such acts continue, they will exacerbate political tensions and weaken public trust in the rule of law and constitutional governance.
There was tension at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Thursday following an alleged failed effort by security personnel to arrest El-Rufai.
Eyewitnesses stated the incident happened shortly after the former governor arrived at the airport, when armed officers approached him and attempted to accompany him away.
The party stated, “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.
“While the ADC maintains its position that no individual is above the law, we state without equivocation that the law must never be weaponized against political opponents. What Nigerians are witnessing is increasingly difficult to separate from a broader and troubling pattern of pressure and selective enforcement directed at opposition voices under the watch of the APC-led administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“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.
“Even more concerning is the widening perception that while opposition leaders are aggressively pursued, individuals with pending corruption allegations are welcomed into the APC with pomp and pageantry. To many Nigerians, it increasingly appears that once you cross into the ruling party, past sins are quietly swept away.”
The ADC stated that such selective accountability undermines public trust in the rule of law and weakens the government’s moral credibility.
The statement continued: “While the African Democratic Congress reaffirms its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, we will not accept selective targeting, intimidation, or harassment of leaders simply because they hold opposing political views. Accountability must be even-handed, due process must be visible, and justice must never wear partisan colors.
“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. Nigeria has come too far and sacrificed too much to permit any slide toward the normalization of political intimidation.
“We therefore call on all security and law enforcement agencies to remain conscious of their professional and constitutional responsibilities. Nigerians deserve clear assurances that the coercive powers of the state will not be deployed, or perceived to be deployed, for partisan ends.
“The ADC will continue to monitor developments closely and will not hesitate to act wherever democratic norms are threatened. Political competition in Nigeria must be settled through persuasion and the ballot, not through the shadow of selective law enforcement.”
