By ThePreview Team

 

Tension has risen in parts of Kaduna State following clashes between supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Vehicles, party offices, and campaign materials, including banners bearing images of Governor Uba Sani and President Bola Tinubu, were reportedly destroyed.

ADC supporter attacked 

Manasseh Istifanus, the ADC candidate for Zangon Kataf Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, said his party’s supporters were attacked at Dakande Toll Gate.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mr Istifanus said the supporters had gathered to welcome the party’s governorship candidate, Isa Ashiru, who had just returned from Umrah, when thugs allegedly attacked them.

He described the incident as “shameful and reprehensible,” saying it amounted to an attack on innocent citizens and an affront to democracy.

“Politics should be about ideas, service, persuasion, and the will of the people; not violence, intimidation, and thuggery,” Mr Istifanus said.

He called on security agencies to investigate and bring those responsible to justice.

Another ADC member, Awwal Gezau, said on Facebook that supporters waiting to receive Mr Ashiru had parked their vehicles around Maraban Jos, near Kaduna, when men in Hilux vehicles and a bus allegedly arrived and began damaging the cars.

The ADC later displayed several damaged vehicles it attributed to the alleged attack. The party also claimed its team was attacked at Dakande while travelling to Kaduna for Mr Ashiru’s welcome.

ThePreview Media could not independently verify the allegations as of Tuesday evening.

APC: Our offices vandalised

In a counter-statement, the Kaduna APC condemned what it described as attacks on its members and the vandalisation of party offices and those of its support groups.

The party’s Publicity Secretary, Sani Dan Azare, alleged that vehicles within APC premises were vandalised and that members were assaulted and intimidated in parts of the state.

“Various claims and allegations have emerged in connection with these incidents,” Mr Dan Azare said, urging security agencies to investigate impartially and take action based on credible evidence.

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He appealed to APC members and support groups to remain calm and avoid retaliation.

“The APC said Kaduna had made significant progress in moving beyond the political, ethnic and religious tensions that previously affected the state and warned against actions capable of undermining those gains.”

“No political contest is greater than the peace and security of Kaduna State. Let the facts be established. Let due process prevail. Let the law take its course,” Mr Dan Azare said.

2027 politics intensifies

The clashes come amid increased political activity in Kaduna ahead of the 2027 elections.

Mr Ashiru, who contested the 2023 governorship election on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, is now the ADC governorship candidate, while Governor Sani is seeking a second term on the APC platform.