El-Rufai, Others Condemn ADC Meeting Disruption By Suspected Political Thugs

The committee brought together members of an All Progressives Congress (APC) faction opposed to the state leadership alongside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Labour Party (LP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The event descended into violence when hoodlums armed with cutlasses, clubs, and stones disrupted the proceedings, attacking participants and vandalising property, according to eyewitnesses.

Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who attended the event, condemned the attack, calling it “a dangerous descent into lawlessness.”

He warned that political thuggery in the state must be stopped, alleging that senior police officers at the scene, including an Assistant Commissioner of Police, “stood by and watched” 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.

“We will take decisive steps to ensure this does not repeat itself,” Mallam El-Rufai said.

He also vowed to escalate the matter to the Police Service Commission, claiming that the police had violated regulations by failing to intervene.

Speaking on the incident, ADC National Vice Chairman (North-West), Jafaru Sani, described the attack as “sad and unfortunate”.

“We will never be intimidated or forced to retreat. We will continue to pursue our political activities with all the energy and commitment we have,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Mansir Hassan issued a statement regarding the incident.

“The Command has commenced an extensive investigation into the alleged political violence into meeting hosted by former governor Nasir El Rufai and shooting incidents by political thugs.

“The incident occurred after a political gathering purportedly organised by a political party, ADC Coalition, without prior notification to the Police and other relevant security agencies, despite repeated warnings and advice. The situation was further complicated by the presence of high-profile dignitaries in the state at the time.

“Preliminary findings indicate that the gathering led to a clash, during which thugs and political gangsters attached to the former governor allegedly fired gunshots, causing chaos and disruption of public order and peace in the state,” the statement noted.