The African Democratic Congress has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission of refusing to grant its leaders access to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who is currently being held by the anti-graft agency.
In a statement released on Friday, the party expressed concern over what it described as intimidation and excessive security deployment at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja during an attempted visit by senior ADC officials.
The statement, signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said a delegation led by former Osun State governor and ADC National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, alongside Salihu Lukman, visited the ICPC office to see El-Rufai but were denied access despite prior communication with the commission.
According to the ADC, the atmosphere at the commission’s headquarters suddenly became tense after several truckloads of armed police officers reportedly arrived while the delegation was waiting for a response.
The party described the deployment as unnecessary, insisting that its leaders were peaceful and unarmed throughout the visit.
ADC further alleged that the incident reinforced growing fears that state institutions are increasingly being used to intimidate opposition figures and silence dissenting voices.
The party also claimed that it had earlier written officially to ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, requesting visitation rights for El-Rufai because of concerns about his welfare, access to family members, and medical care.
Defending the former governor, the ADC stated that El-Rufai voluntarily submitted himself to the authorities and should therefore be treated in line with constitutional provisions guaranteeing dignity, fair treatment, medical access, and legal rights.
The party warned against what it called “punishment by process” and vowed not to remain silent over what it described as harassment and humiliation of one of its prominent leaders.
ADC concluded by demanding unrestricted access to El-Rufai by his lawyers, doctors, family members, and party officials, arguing that anything short of that would strengthen public suspicion that state institutions are being weaponised against opposition politicians.