Ex-Gov El-Rufai Condemns Attack, Blames Police Inaction as ADC Stakeholders Accuse Him of Hijacking Coalition

The inauguration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) transition committee in Kaduna descended into chaos on Saturday after suspected thugs armed with cutlasses, clubs, and stones disrupted the event. Property was vandalised and participants attacked, though proceedings continued under tense and volatile conditions.

The committee was set up by a coalition of opposition parties, including a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) opposed to the state leadership, as well as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the ADC.

Eyewitnesses described the violence as “coordinated,” with security operatives allegedly failing to intervene despite being stationed at the venue.

El-Rufai Blames Police, Warns Against Thuggery

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who attended the inauguration, strongly condemned the attack, describing it as “a dangerous descent into lawlessness.” He accused senior police officers, including an Assistant Commissioner of Police, of watching passively as the violence unfolded.

“If the authorities don’t end the introduction of thuggery into Kaduna politics, God help us. Nobody has a monopoly on violence or thugs,” El-Rufai warned. He vowed to escalate the matter to the Police Service Commission, stressing that the police violated their duty by failing to protect lives and property.

The former governor insisted that decisive steps would be taken to prevent a recurrence, promising that those who instigated the disruption would be held accountable.

Police Counter El-Rufai, Launch Investigation

In its response, the Kaduna State Police Command shifted blame to El-Rufai, accusing him of failing to notify security agencies about the meeting despite repeated warnings.

According to DSP Mansir Hassan, the command’s Public Relations Officer, the gathering was an “unauthorised political event” and therefore vulnerable to infiltration by hoodlums. He added that the presence of high-profile dignitaries in Kaduna on the same day further complicated the situation.

“The investigation is ongoing, and anyone found culpable, no matter how highly placed, will face the full weight of the law,” Hassan said. The police also warned hotels and event centres against hosting political meetings without prior security clearance, threatening sanctions on facilities that fail to comply.

ADC Stakeholders Accuse El-Rufai of Hijacking

Amid the fallout, a group of ADC members, coalition partners, and stakeholders from across Kaduna’s 23 local government areas dissociated themselves from the committee’s inauguration.

At a press conference, spokesperson Adamu Dattijo accused El-Rufai of attempting to hijack the coalition structure for his personal political agenda ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Instead of promoting collective leadership, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has chosen the path of arrogance and imposition. He disregards the duly elected Kaduna ADC leadership and runs a one-man show with his loyalists,” Dattijo said.

The group urged the ADC National Working Committee to intervene and restore order, warning that El-Rufai’s style of leadership risked weakening the ADC coalition rather than strengthening it.

Political Tensions Deepen Ahead of 2027

The violent disruption and subsequent blame game highlight deepening tensions within Kaduna’s opposition space. While El-Rufai ADC positions himself as a defender of democratic process against thuggery, his critics accuse him of power play and divisive tactics.

With the police already warning of stricter controls on political meetings, the episode underscores how fragile coalition politics remain in the state. As 2027 approaches, whether the ADC and its partners can overcome internal rifts and external threats will determine their relevance in the coming electoral battles.