The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kebbi State has alleged a plot by certain influential individuals to use security agencies to arrest opposition members, including its spokesperson, over their political activities.
Politics Nigeria reports that the party’s Deputy Publicity Secretary, Engr. Abubakar Musa, raised the alarm in a statement issued on Tuesday.
He alleged that some influential individuals were planning to target ADC members for expressing political opinions, promoting the party’s policies and sharing political messages on social media.
Musa said the party was particularly concerned by reports that its spokesperson was among those allegedly marked for arrest.
“If this report is confirmed, it would constitute a serious cause for concern, particularly considering that the responsibility of a party spokesperson is to communicate the party’s positions, policies, and activities to the general public,” the statement read in part.
The ADC said the alleged plot was not an isolated incident, claiming that its Local Government Chairman in Maiyama was recently arrested and spent almost two weeks in prison before being released.
It also alleged that about eight members of its media team were currently facing court proceedings.
This was just as the party further disclosed that it had submitted a formal complaint against a senior government official at the Kebbi State Police Command Headquarters more than a month ago but had yet to receive comprehensive information on the action taken or the status of the investigation.
The ADC called on relevant authorities to ensure that investigations were conducted and the law enforced fairly, without political discrimination or favouritism.
It urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to monitor and investigate reports of human rights violations, intimidation, harassment and abuse of fundamental rights.
The party also asked the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to clarify the status of its complaint and ensure that security personnel were not used to intimidate opposition members.
It called on judicial authorities to uphold due process and protect citizens’ rights, while urging independent civil society organisations to investigate the allegations and defend political freedoms.
Reiterating that membership of an opposition party was not a crime, the ADC maintained that citizens had the constitutional right to express political opinions, criticise government policies and disseminate political messages within the confines of the law.
“The ADC will not accept any attempt to use political power or state institutions to silence citizens, suppress their opinions, or deny them the freedom to participate in legitimate political activities,” the statement said.
The party urged its members to remain calm, law-abiding and peaceful, warning them against taking the law into their own hands. It also encouraged them to report any incidents of intimidation or harassment to the appropriate authorities.
“Government has a responsibility to protect all citizens, not just those who support it.
“The law does not distinguish between those in government and those in opposition. Every complaint deserves proper investigation, and every individual accused of an offence is entitled to justice and a fair hearing,” the statement added.
The ADC warned that democracy could not thrive through intimidation, threats or the forced silence of citizens, stressing the need to protect fundamental rights and uphold the rule of law.
Meanwhile, the party disclosed that it had received reports that the residence of a social media blogger, Mudasir Sani, was raided.
It called on the relevant authorities to explain the circumstances surrounding the raid and ensure that Sani’s fundamental rights were respected.
COURTESY: PoliticsNigeria
