The Kaduna State Police Command has invited former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and six senior members of the African Democratic Congress for questioning over allegations bordering on criminal conspiracy, incitement of public disturbance, mischief, and causing grievous hurt.
The invitation, contained in a letter dated September 4, 2025 and signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, DCP Uzairu Abdullahi, directed the ADC state chairman to present the seven individuals before the State CID on September 8 to clarify issues raised in a petition filed by unnamed complainants.
Those listed include El-Rufai; Bashir Sa’idu; Jafaru Sani; Ubaidullah Mohammed (popularly known as “30”); Nasiru Maikano; Aminu Abita; and Ahmed Rufa’i Hussaini (a.k.a. “Mikiya”).
The police said the invitation formed part of efforts to maintain law and order.
Earlier on Thursday, security operatives sealed off the ADC state secretariat located at No. 4 Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna.
The action came just hours before the scheduled visit of the ADC North-West leadership to the office, a trip planned to commiserate with members injured in last week’s violent attack by suspected political thugs.
At a press briefing at his residence shortly after the police move, El-Rufai denounced the closure of the secretariat as unconstitutional.
He said the police commissioner had cited a court order barring the meeting, but failed to provide any documentation.
“We have not seen the court order. It has not been served on us. Even if there is such an order, the law prescribes proper service. None of that was done. We decided to obey the commissioner out of respect for his office, but we believe his action is unconstitutional,” the former governor said.
The sealing of the office has further heightened political tension in Kaduna, coming days after suspected thugs disrupted an ADC Coalition Transition Committee meeting at the NUT Endwell Conference Centre, leaving several members injured and property destroyed. Party leaders accused the police of inaction during the attack, and in some instances, complicity.
Ex-Minister of State for Defence and ADC chieftain, Mallam Lawal Batagarawa, described the attack as a “coordinated assault” and warned of a creeping slide into dictatorship.
“Such deliberate acts of political brutality represent a dangerous slide into lawlessness and authoritarianism,” he said.
The Kaduna State Government has repeatedly accused El-Rufai of instigating unrest.
On September 1, the Commissioner for Internal Security, Dr Shehu Shuaibu, alleged that the ex-governor was plotting to destabilise the state following ADC’s electoral setbacks, warning that anyone who threatened peace would be held accountable.
Meanwhile, the ADC North-West Zone condemned the sealing of its secretariat and the police invitation to its leaders, describing both as attempts to stifle opposition.
It demanded investigations into the Kaduna attack, accountability for perpetrators and sponsors, and the lifting of restrictions on political gatherings across the state.
“A government that uses security agencies and violence to suppress opponents is a threat to democracy. We will resist any attempt to foist a one-party dictatorship on this country,” Batagarawa said, with El-Rufai and other opposition leaders in attendance.