Jema’a/Sanga ADC candidate Adam IsahTanko alleges APC-linked violence and selective arrests, demands release of detained opposition members and an impartial police investigation.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kaduna State of orchestrating violence and using partisan policing to intimidate opposition members in Jema'a/Sanga Federal Constituency.

The candidate of the ADC for Jema'a/Sanga, Hon. Adam Isah Tanko, made the allegation in a statement issued Tuesday in Kafanchan, saying the last 48 hours had witnessed “a deeply alarming, undemocratic, and violent turn of events” allegedly masterminded by APC elements.

According to Tanko, APC stakeholders staged a rally in Kafanchan two days ago which later moved to the Palace of the Emir of Jama’a. 

He alleged that an APC stalwart at the event made “highly provocative, inciting, and divisive statements,” claiming that Kafanchan belongs exclusively to the APC and referring to non-APC members as “settlers” rather than indigenes.

The statement further alleged that the same individual threatened that any opposition party campaigning against the APC “would be dealt with by their touts.”

Tanko described the rally as “an artificial display designed to deceive the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, into believing the people of Jema'a are with him, solely to secure campaign funds.”

Alleged Attack and Police Action

Following the rally, Tanko said thugs acting on the threats launched an “unprovoked attack on unarmed, innocent citizens,” which left some people injured.

He said the individual identified as responsible was initially detained by the Kafanchan Police Command.

However, he alleged that justice was subverted after the case was transferred to the State Police Command. 

“Instead, the case was transferred to the State Police Command. In a shocking twist of injustice, the police discharged all the APC members including those who openly incited the violence. Meanwhile, they detained innocent ADC and PDP members at the State CID,” the statement said.

Tanko said the Divisional Police Officer of Kafanchan had earlier invited stakeholders from the APC, PDP and ADC for intervention, but the matter was moved to the state headquarters.

He described as “most reprehensible” the detention of party chairmen from the ADC and PDP who, he said, were not at the scene. He specifically stated that the PDP chairman had just returned from a trip and “had absolutely no connection to the commotion.”

Demands and Call for Calm

The ADC candidate demanded the “immediate and unconditional release” of all ADC and PDP members, including the chairmen, currently held at the State CID.

He also called on the Inspector General of Police and the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police to launch an “immediate, impartial investigation into this lopsided, partisan policing.”

Tanko warned the APC to “desist from using dangerous, tribal, and exclusionary 'indigene vs. settler' rhetoric that threatens the fragile peace of Southern Kaduna,” adding that “no political party owns Kafanchan, power belongs to the people.”

He appealed to supporters across Jema'a/Sanga to “remain calm, law-abiding, and peaceful,” stressing that the party was pursuing “every legal and constitutional avenue to correct this injustice.”

“Our journey toward true, fair, and qualitative representation will not be derailed by the desperate antics of a failing ruling party,” he said.

The Kaduna State Police Command was yet to respond to the allegations as at the time of filing this report. 

The APC in Kaduna also did not immediately comment on the claims.