ADC Condemns Attempt to Arrest El-Rufai, Questions Why Opposition Leaders are Pursued

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned what it described as an attempt by security operatives to arrest former Nasir El-Rufai at an airport, warning that the incident raises serious constitutional and democratic concerns.

In a statement issued on Friday by Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, the opposition party said the development reflects what it called a broader and troubling pattern of pressure and selective enforcement targeting opposition voices.

“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 party said, continuing that it’s “even more disturbing that while opposition leaders are pursued, individuals with pending corruption cases are welcomed into the APC with pomp and pageantry. To many Nigerians, it increasingly appears that once you cross into the ruling Party, your 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 the government.”

The ADC further expressed concern that such actions and assured that it will keep monitoring the process and will act whenever democratic norms are threatened.

It called on all security agencies to be conscious of their professionalism as Nigerians deserve clear assurance that the coercive powers of the State and Government will not be deployed for the benefit of a political party.