By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, on Friday February 13, 2026, insisted that accountability must be evenly spread, due process visible, and justice perceived not to wear partisan colours.
The emerging opposition coalition platform’s cautionary note is coming against the backdrop of the alleged botched attempt by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and the Department of State Service, DSS, to arrest the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai at the Abuja Airport on Thursday on his return from a Medical trip abroad.
The alleged attempted arrest of El-Rufai, one of the prominent promoters of the ADC, also, came amidst the apprehension, detention, and ongoing trial of some chieftains of the opposition platform, a development which has been perceived not by a few as smacking of growing political intolerance and intimidation.
In a statement on Friday, ADC’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, while condemning the attempted arrest of El-Rufai ,also described it as representing a troubling pattern in the orchestrated campaign targeted at undermining and silencing opposition voices.
According to the ADC, the botched attempt at arresting the former Kaduna State Governor, and the ongoing politically motivated arrest, detention and trial of some opposition elements are very much inconsistent with established legal procedures.
It warned that such actions have the potential to greatly undermine constitutional safeguards and democratic accountability standards.
This is as the party expressed serious concern about the respect for due process ,and the neutrality expected of security agencies and other law enforcement organs in the country.
Specifically, the opposition Coalition platform lamented the growing tendencies of the EFCC and others to allegedly deliberately target opposition figures in the discharge of their duties.
The party, while acknowledging that no individuals are above the law, however expressed concern over the troubling and growing pattern of selective justice, targeting opposition party members across the country.
The ADC warned that such growing and disturbing trend of double standard in the discharge of institutional responsibilities,will never help the war against corruption.
“Reports indicate that security operatives laid in wait for Malam El-Rufai at the airport with the apparent intention to effect an arrest .
“Yet no warrant was presented at the time of the attempted action, raising significant legal and constitutional concerns.
“If confirmed, this represents not merely a procedural lapse, but a dangerous signal that due process is treated as optional”, the ADC stated.
The Source further reports that immediate past Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, former Governor of Sokoto state Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Minister of Labour and Productivity Dr Chris Ngige, some Bauchi State Government officials and other opposition voices were of recent arrested and currently facing trials over sundry charges bordering on alleged money laundering,contract splitting and other corrupt practices
Not a few observers however see the obviously lopsided arrests, detentions and trials as smacking of a deliberate plot to cow opposition figures into submission .
Instructively, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors Forum Chairman, and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammad had of recent accused the Federal Government of using the instrumentality of the EFCC to harass him and others in the State over his refusal to defect to the All Progressive Congress APC.
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