ACF Protests Police Sealing Of Kaduna Headquarters Ahead Of NEC Meeting

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned the sealing of its headquarters in Kaduna by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, describing the action as illegal and unjustified.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, T. A. Muhammad-Baba, the forum said the office was shut without any known court order or prior notice, just hours before its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

According to the ACF, the only indication surrounding the development was an unsigned circular allegedly linked to Bashir Dalhatu, suggesting that the meeting had been cancelled on the grounds that it was convened by the Secretary General.

The forum, however, dismissed the claim, stating that the NEC meeting—and an earlier National Working Committee (NWC) meeting—were duly convened by its Chairman, Mamman Osuman, in line with provisions of its constitution.

It further argued that the Chairman of the Board of Trustees has no authority over operational matters beyond the scope defined in the ACF constitution.

The ACF said there was no legal basis for the police action, noting that relevant security agencies had been duly informed about the meetings and that the earlier NWC session held without incident.

The forum has therefore called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to direct the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police to immediately unseal its headquarters.

“There is absolutely no basis for sealing the office unless there are unstated motives,” the statement said, adding that delegates had already arrived in Kaduna for the NEC meeting.

The forum expressed hope that “rationality and good judgement” would prevail in resolving the situation.