Nasir El-Rufai accuses Kaduna Police Commissioner, Muhammad Rabiu, of “unprofessional conduct, abuse of office, and serial rights violations” in a formal petition submitted to the Police Service Commission (PSC) on Monday
The former governor’s action is the latest escalation in the tense standoff between the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Kaduna State Police Command.
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The petition follows the controversial sealing of the ADC secretariat last Thursday, and a police summons issued to El-Rufai and six top ADC figures over alleged conspiracy, incitement, and disturbance of public peace.
Instead of appearing for questioning, El-Rufai — in a statement through his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye — accused the police of operating outside the bounds of law.
“Some officers are serving interests other than those conferred by law,” El-Rufai stated, describing their actions as “egregiously unlawful” and damaging to public confidence.
He further criticised the inaction of the police during recent violent attacks on ADC members by political thugs, which many believe occurred with tacit police support.
“The duty of all citizens is not only to support the police] but to ensure discipline is enforced,” the petition read.
Despite El-Rufai’s claims, the Kaduna Police Command has yet to issue a formal response. Multiple calls and messages to their spokesperson went unanswered as of press time.
Meanwhile, internal tension within the ADC continues to mount. While El-Rufai inaugurated a transition committee recently, some state party leaders disowned the process, labelling it illegitimate and disruptive.
Political analysts see El-Rufai’s petition as part of a broader power struggle within Kaduna’s volatile political landscape, especially as the ADC positions itself as a challenger to the dominance of the ruling parties ahead of 2027.
Sources close to El-Rufai claim the petition also highlights recent moves by the state police targeting his associates, a trend that he believes signals politically motivated harassment.
During a press briefing on September 4, El-Rufai condemned the sealing of the ADC office, calling it an “unconstitutional overreach.”
He insisted that no court order had been properly served, despite claims to the contrary by the police.
“We believe the commissioner of police. Because we don’t believe he could be lying — but we’ll challenge this in court,” he said.
This ongoing standoff has only deepened after the PSC was notified, raising questions about the neutrality and professionalism of police leadership in the state.
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As the 2027 general elections draw nearer, the political atmosphere in Kaduna remains highly charged — and El-Rufai’s bold petition has now placed the PSC under pressure to investigate and act.
