Tension has risen in Kaduna State following a violent clash between supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), which left several vehicles destroyed and campaign materials vandalised.
The latest incident happened on Tuesday when ADC supporters gathered to welcome the party’s governorship candidate, Alhaji Isa Ashiru, back from Umrah.
According to ADC, its supporters had gathered peacefully at the *Dakande Toll Gate and Maraban Jos* area, near Kaduna, to receive Ashiru.
The party’s candidate for Zangon Kataf Constituency, Manasseh Istifanus, alleged that thugs attacked the supporters while they were waiting.
“Our people came out for a peaceful rally at the toll gate but were attacked,” the ADC said.
Another ADC member, Awwal Gezau, alleged that men arrived in a fully branded Hilux vehicle with ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ written on it and an 18-seater bus carrying fully armed youths, and began smashing cars.
The ADC later paraded several damaged vehicles with shattered windscreens and broken side mirrors as evidence of the attack.
The ADC flagbearer, Isa Ashiru, condemned the incident:
“Enough is enough. Kaduna belongs to all of us, and no political party has the right to prevent citizens from supporting the candidate or party of their choice. We will not be intimidated, and we will not be provoked into violence.”
The APC in Kaduna denied orchestrating any attack and claimed its own members and offices were also attacked.
Its Publicity Secretary, Sani Dan Azare Haruna, said APC supporters were the ones who suffered damage.
“Our people came out for a peaceful rally at the toll gate but were attacked. So we cannot call it a clash, because our people came out for a peaceful rally but were attacked. In fact, we were the ones who suffered damage. We are dousing tension now to avoid escalation,” Haruna said.
The party alleged that vehicles were vandalised at party premises, while APC members and supporters were assaulted and intimidated in other parts of the state.
Both parties have called on security agencies to investigate the incident and prosecute those found culpable.
ADC urged the police to ensure all political parties are allowed to carry out legitimate activities without intimidation, while APC called for an impartial probe.
As of Tuesday evening, the Kaduna State Police Command had not issued an official statement identifying those responsible.
The clash comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Kaduna, with APC and ADC trading accusations over political violence.
