ADC Accuses ICPC For Obstructing Access To El-Rufai, Warns Against Intimidation

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ABUJA – The African Democratic Con­gress (ADC) has accused the Independent Corrupt Practic­es and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of obstructing ac­cess to former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, after a delega­tion comprising the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola; National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Ab­dullahi; and Secretary of the ADC Pol­icy and Manifesto Committee, Mallam Salihu Lukman, was denied access to him at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

The party, which warned the an­ti-graft agency against further intimi­dation, noted that the former governor was being subjected to intimidation and political persecution.

In a strongly worded statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Ab­dullahi, the party said it had previously written to the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, requesting visitation rights for El-Rufai amid concerns raised by his family over the alleged denial of access to doctors and food.

The ADC warned that “Nigeria and the world are watching,” insisting that the former governor was being subject­ed to intimidation and political persecu­tion, while threatening to mobilise party members nationwide if access to him continues to be denied.

The statement reads: “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) wishes to express its concern over the refusal of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to grant senior leaders of our party access to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State and a prominent leader of our party, who remains in the custody of the Commis­sion.

“Earlier today, alongside the Nation­al Secretary of our party, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and the Secretary of the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee, Mallam Salihu Lukman, we visited the headquarters of the ICPC in Abuja to see Mallam El-Rufai. Despite prior communication and formal requests, we were denied access without any rea­sonable explanation.

“While we were at the premises awaiting a response to our request, the atmosphere suddenly became noticeably tense after no fewer than three truckloads of armed police offi­cers arrived at the facility. The heavy deployment, which appeared entirely unnecessary and disproportionate to the peaceful presence of unarmed political leaders, created the unmistakable im­pression that the authorities feared that the mere presence of opposition leaders at the Commission could trigger public outrage.

“It is deeply troubling that a simple request by senior party officials to visit a detained colleague was met, not with professionalism, but with a show of force more suited to the suppression of civil unrest. At no point did members of our delegation threaten disorder, incite confrontation, or mobilise supporters to the premises. Yet the response of the state suggested panic, fear, and an attempt to intimidate not only our party leaders, but also any Nigerian who may dare to question the treatment being meted out to opposition figures.”