The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned an alleged attempt by security operatives to arrest former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon his arrival from Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday.
The party, in a statement on Friday by its national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the incident as troubling and inconsistent with established legal procedures.
According to ADC, the move raises serious concerns about due process and the political neutrality expected of security and law enforcement agencies. It warned that such actions undermined constitutional safeguards and democratic accountability standards.
The party said the incident reflected a troubling and growing pattern of selective pressure allegedly targeting opposition figures across the country
“While the ADC maintains that no individual is above the law, the law must never be weaponised against political opponents,” the party said. “What Nigerians are witnessing is increasingly difficult to separate from a troubling pattern of selective enforcement directed at opposition voices.”
ADC stated that the incident was “a dangerous signal that due process is treated as optional,” warning that it could undermine public trust in democratic institutions and weaken confidence in the rule of law.
According to ADC, such selective accountability erodes faith in the rule of law and damages the moral authority of government.
The statement said that while ADC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, it rejected the selective targeting of opposition leaders.
“Accountability must be even-handed, due process must be visible, and justice must never wear partisan colours.
“Government must understand that democracy’s strength is measured not by how it treats allies but by how it treats critics.
“Nigeria has come too far to allow any slide towards the normalisation of political intimidation,” it stated.
The party therefore called on security and law enforcement agencies to remain mindful of their professional constitutional duties.
ADC said it would continue to monitor developments closely and would not hesitate to act wherever democratic norms were threatened.
“Political competition in Nigeria must be settled through persuasion and the ballot, not through selective law enforcement,” it emphasised.
(NAN)