Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has petitioned the Police Service Commission (PSC), accusing the Kaduna State Police Command of unprofessional conduct and violations of the Police Act under its current leadership.
In his petition, El-Rufai argued that accountability within the police is central to maintaining public trust, insisting that the PSC must be “continuously alerted” to instances of misconduct.
“The Nigerian Police, warts and all, is the only frontline law enforcement institution that we have,” El-Rufai wrote. “Citizens not only have a duty to support it but also to ensure that the Commission enforces discipline and ethical conduct at all times. When some officers act in ways that serve interests outside the law, they damage the image of the police and erode public confidence.”
The former governor revealed that he had earlier raised similar concerns in a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, citing what he described as “egregiously unlawful acts” allegedly committed by officers since the posting of Commissioner of Police Rabiu Muhammad to Kaduna on 30 December 2024.
El-Rufai urged the PSC to launch an “immediate, impartial, and exhaustive” investigation, stressing that recent developments have deepened public distrust in the command.
Summons and Political Backdrop
The petition follows a controversial police summons issued to El-Rufai and several leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna. The police invited them over allegations of criminal conspiracy, incitement of public disturbance, mischief, and causing grievous hurt.
The summons, signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Zubairu Abdullahi, instructed El-Rufai and others to appear at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to clarify complaints lodged on September 8, 2025.
However, some ADC members claimed they never received formal notice and only learnt of the summons via social media reports.
The police action followed violent clashes on August 30, when suspected thugs armed with cutlasses, clubs, and stones attacked the inauguration of a transition committee of opposition parties under the ADC. Several people were injured, and property was vandalised, though the event went ahead under tense conditions.
The opposition coalition included factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) opposed to the current state leadership, alongside members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Labour Party (LP), and ADC.
The Kaduna Police Command has, however, blamed El-Rufai for the disruption, accusing him of failing to properly notify security agencies despite repeated warnings. Police spokesman DSP Mansir Hassan described this as a breach of public order.
Opposition Pushback and Wider Allegations
The ADC has condemned the summons, accusing security agencies of being weaponised against opposition figures.
Party spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi described the development as part of a “coordinated effort to stifle opposition politics” in states where the ruling party feels threatened by the ADC’s growing influence.
The ADC also linked the incident to a recent attack on the convoy of former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, suggesting that opposition leaders are being systematically targeted.
El-Rufai has meanwhile escalated his criticism of the Federal Government’s security strategy, accusing it of “empowering bandits” by allegedly paying them allowances and supplying food under the guise of “non-kinetic measures.” He derided the approach as a “kiss-the-bandits policy.”
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