Kaduna’s political tensions escalated on Monday after former governor Nasir El-Rufai and leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) failed to honour a police invitation over alleged conspiracy and incitement, instead filing a petition against the state’s Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu.
The Kaduna Police Command had last week sealed off the ADC state secretariat and summoned El-Rufai alongside six top party members for questioning. The invitation, signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Uzairu Abdullahi, accused them of conspiracy, mischief, and disturbance of public peace.
But in a fresh twist, El-Rufai, through his media aide Muyiwa Adekeye, announced that he had petitioned the Police Service Commission (PSC), accusing Rabiu of “unprofessional conduct, abuse of office, and serial violations” since assuming duty in December 2024.
El-Rufai said his decision followed the failure of an earlier petition to the Inspector-General of Police to halt what he described as “egregiously unlawful” actions by the Kaduna command.
“The Nigeria Police is the only frontline law enforcement institution we have,” El-Rufai stated. “Citizens must support it, but we must also ensure the PSC enforces discipline and promotes ethical conduct by officers. Bad eggs serving interests outside the law erode public trust.”
The former governor did not give specific details in his petition, but associates claimed it was linked to a series of police actions allegedly targeting his allies in recent months.
The row intensified after police operatives sealed the ADC state secretariat on September 4, hours before a solidarity visit from the party’s North-West leaders. The visit was meant to commiserate with members injured by political thugs the previous week, but police claimed a court order barred the gathering — an order El-Rufai said was never shown or properly served.
Speaking at a press briefing that same day, the ex-governor condemned the action as unconstitutional: “Even if there is a court order, due process requires proper service. We have not seen any order, yet the secretariat was sealed. This violates the Constitution.”
He vowed to challenge the matter legally, hinting at a prolonged battle that could reach the Supreme Court.
The Kaduna Police Command has yet to react officially to El-Rufai’s petition, as calls to its spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, went unanswered.
Meanwhile, Kaduna’s Commissioner for Internal Security, Dr. Shehu Shuaibu, accused El-Rufai of attempting to destabilise the state. In a statement on September 1, he warned: “Anyone who dares to threaten our hard-won peace — be it Nasir El-Rufai or any accomplice — will be held accountable.”
The crisis underscores growing friction between the police, opposition forces, and former political leaders in Kaduna, raising fears of renewed unrest in a state with a fragile peace history.
