By SCM Reporter, Friday, Sept 11, 2026
KADUNA — Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned a violent attack on its members in Kaduna State, warning political actors and rival organizations that no group holds a monopoly on non-state sanctioned violence.
The party cautioned that those introducing political thuggery and physical intimidation into the early stages of the electoral cycle are playing a dangerous game that could destabilize the polity.
In an official press statement issued on September 10, 2026, and signed by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the violent assault as an unacceptable escalation at a time when political consultations and democratic engagements are just gathering momentum.
Abdullahi emphasized that resorting to violence sets a perilous precedent for Nigerian democracy. “Let nobody mistake our commitment to peaceful democratic participation for weakness. No political party has a monopoly on non-state sanctioned violence. Once violence becomes an accepted instrument of political competition, nobody can predict where it ends,” he warned.
Demand for Immediate Security Action
The ADC called directly on law enforcement and security agencies to intervene promptly to prevent the breakdown of law and order. The party insisted that investigators must look beyond perpetrators on the ground to unmask the hidden hands financing political thuggery in the state.
”This is why the security agencies must act now. Those responsible for the attack, as well as anyone who sponsored or organised it, must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted,” the statement read.
The opposition party expressed deep solidarity with its governorship candidate, Hon. Isa Ashiru, alongside party faithful who were targeted in the incident.
Reaffirming its resolve, the party declared that Kaduna belongs to all its residents rather than any single political faction.
”Kaduna belongs to its people, not to any party. If anyone believes intimidation will frighten the ADC off the political field, they have badly miscalculated,” the party noted, assuring supporters that it will actively organize and campaign across every ward and senatorial district in the state.
”We will not be intimidated. We will organise, we will campaign, and we will compete in every part of Kaduna State. The 2027 elections must be decided by ideas competing at the ballot box, not by thugs and bruises,” the party added.
Kaduna State has long served as the political nerve center of North-West Nigeria, often witnessing fiercely contested electoral cycles. In recent months, political realignments and party defections have heightened local dynamics as opposition coalitions position themselves to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration led by Governor Uba Sani.
The ADC’s gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Isa Ashiru—a prominent figure in Northern politics—previously contested the governorship race in 2019 and 2023 under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before joining the ADC.
With the ADC expanding its footprint across the state and solidifying its leadership under national figures like former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, political tensions have steadily climbed as party structures gear up for the 2027 ballot.
Political analysts caution that early clashes of this nature highlight the urgent need for local authorities and security personnel to guarantee a level playing field for opposition parties and prevent political violence from expanding across the region ahead of campaign season.
