By: Joy Musa
Security operatives on Thursday sealed off the Kaduna State secretariat of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), located at No. 4 Ali Akilu Road, in a move that has intensified political tensions across the state.
Eyewitnesses reported a heavy deployment of police patrol vans surrounding the building, effectively barring access to the party’s office. The action came just hours before a scheduled visit by the North-West leadership of the ADC, who were expected to sympathize with members recently injured in a politically motivated attack.
The visit was intended to console ADC members wounded during last week’s violent disruption of a coalition meeting between the ADC and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The meeting, held at the NUT Endwell Conference Hall in Magadishu Layout, was stormed by suspected thugs who vandalized vehicles, shattered windows, and left several attendees injured. Notably, armed policemen were present at the scene but failed to prevent the chaos.
A senior ADC member, speaking anonymously, described the police action as “a deliberate attempt to suppress opposition voices,” linking the incident to growing hostilities between former governor Nasir El-Rufai and incumbent Governor Uba Sani.
In response to the clampdown, ADC chieftain Yusuf Shehu Bello has filed a suit at the Federal High Court against the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police. Represented by counsel Farouk Dikko, Bello is seeking an interlocutory injunction to restrain the police from interfering with lawful political gatherings.
“The police have no powers to halt political activities,” Bello stated after filing the case. “Their duty is to ensure security and maintain peace, not to suppress free association. We are in court to protect our democratic rights.”
The legal action also challenges a recent directive from the Kaduna police command requiring political parties to obtain clearance before holding meetings in public venues a move Bello argues is unconstitutional.
Analysts warn that the sealing of the ADC secretariat may signal a turbulent political season ahead of the 2027 elections. Opposition leaders have condemned the crackdown, arguing that it undermines democratic principles and could provoke further unrest.
The ADC’s recent takeover of the former PDP secretariat on August 28, 2025, has also added fuel to the fire, with rival factions viewing the move as a bold assertion of political strength.
As Kaduna braces for what could be a volatile pre-election period, calls for restraint and respect for democratic norms continue to echo across the political landscape.
