Nasir El-Rufai: We Will Respond If Democratic Norms Are Threatened – ADC Reacts To Ex-Governor's Attempted Arrest

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned what it termed an attempted arrest of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai by security operatives at an airport, warning that the incident raises serious questions about due process and political impartiality.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party alleged that the move reflects “a troubling pattern of pressure and selective enforcement” against opposition figures under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to the ADC, security operatives were said to have “lain in wait” for El-Rufai at the airport with the intention of effecting an arrest but failed to present a warrant at the time.

“If confirmed, this represents not merely a procedural lapse but a dangerous signal that due process is being treated as optional when opposition figures are involved,” Abdullahi stated.

The party maintained that while no individual is above the law, legal processes must not be weaponised for political purposes.

“We state without equivocation that the law must never be weaponized against political opponents,” the statement read.

“What Nigerians are witnessing is increasingly difficult to separate from a broader and troubling pattern of pressure and selective enforcement directed at opposition voices.”

The ADC also criticised what it described as a double standard in the fight against corruption, alleging that politically exposed persons facing allegations are often embraced by the ruling party, while critics face heightened scrutiny.

“To many Nigerians, it increasingly appears that once you cross into the ruling party, past sins are quietly swept away. This is precisely the kind of selective accountability that erodes faith in the rule of law and damages the moral authority of government,” Abdullahi said.

Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability, the party stressed that justice must be applied evenly.

“Accountability must be even-handed, due process must be visible, and justice must never wear partisan colors,” the statement added.

The ADC further urged security and law enforcement agencies to uphold their constitutional responsibilities and avoid actions that could be perceived as politically motivated.

“The strength of a democracy is measured not by how it treats its allies, but by how it treats its critics. Nigeria has come too far, and sacrificed too much, to permit any slide toward the normalization of political intimidation,” Abdullahi said.

The party said it would continue to monitor developments and would not hesitate to respond if democratic norms are threatened, insisting that political competition must be settled “through persuasion and the ballot, not through the shadow of selective law enforcement,” the statement ended.