The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vowed to continue its political activities across Kaduna State despite an attack on some of its members, warning that attempts to use violence or intimidation ahead of the 2027 elections will not stop the party.
According to the party, political competition must not be allowed to degenerate into thuggery, urging security agencies to investigate the incident and bring everyone involved to justice.
The warning was contained in a statement signed by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, following the attack on the party’s members in Kaduna.
Abdullahi described the incident as an unacceptable escalation, stressing that the ADC’s commitment to peaceful participation in the democratic process should not be mistaken for weakness.
“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,” the statement said.
The party argued that the development was particularly troubling because political activities for the 2027 elections were only beginning. It warned that allowing political thuggery to take root at this stage could create a wider security problem as the election approaches.
The ADC therefore called on security agencies to act immediately, saying those behind the attack should not only be identified but also prosecuted.
“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 party said.
The opposition party also expressed solidarity with its Kaduna governorship candidate, Hon. Isa Ashiru, and other members affected by the incident.
The ADC called on the Kaduna State Government to provide a political environment where opposition parties can operate freely without intimidation, arguing that every political organisation should have equal opportunity to campaign and engage voters ahead of the election.
“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 said.
It added that the incident would not force the party out of the political process or prevent it from reaching voters across 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 ADC said.
The latest confrontation comes as the party intensifies preparations for the 2027 elections, with its Northwest governorship candidates recently unveiling a joint development plan covering Kaduna and six other states in the region.
POLITICS NIGERIA reported on Wednesday that ADC governorship candidates in Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states had pledged to pay workers a minimum wage of N110,000 if elected.
The candidates made the commitment in Abuja while signing the Northwest ADC Governorship Candidates’ Compact 2027–2031, a regional development framework focused on security, education, healthcare, agriculture and economic growth.
The compact also contains a proposal to establish 21 specialist hospitals, with one planned for each senatorial district across the Northwest.
At the signing ceremony held at the Yar’Adua Centre, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and Kebbi State ADC governorship candidate, Abubakar Malami, SAN, said the document represented a regional covenant with the people.
The candidates said insecurity, poverty, hunger and the education crisis in the Northwest were connected and required a coordinated response across state boundaries.
They pledged to declare emergencies on insecurity and education if elected and proposed the use of drones, surveillance technology and rapid-response networks to tackle security threats.
They also proposed a Northwest Regional Security Coordination Centre to improve intelligence sharing, early warning systems and coordinated responses among the seven states.
On workers’ welfare, the candidates promised to introduce a uniform N110,000 minimum wage across the region while allowing each state to retain its constitutional authority over its budget, civil service, procurement and other internal matters.
They also pledged to work together on agriculture, healthcare, education, infrastructure and food security, including the creation of protected agricultural corridors, rehabilitation of irrigation systems, agro-processing industries and a regional grain reserve.
The candidates further promised to improve access to healthcare through primary healthcare centres, the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, telemedicine, midwives and community health insurance programmes.