Governor’s ADC, CSO still in custody over rift within APC

A deepening power struggle within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina State has taken a troubling security dimension following the reported detention of the Aide‑de‑Camp (ADC) and Chief Security Officer (CSO) attached to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda at the Force Headquarters, Abuja over a rift with one of the advisers of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

PRNigeria gathered from multiple sources that the two officers have remained in police custody in Abuja since August 20, 2026.

This is amid allegations that their detention is linked to an intensifying political rivalry between factions within the ruling party.

The development has raised concerns among political observers and security analysts, who warn that drawing security institutions into intra‑party disputes could undermine public confidence in law enforcement and heighten tensions ahead of the 2027 general election.

Sources familiar with the matter told PRNigeria that the governor’s ADC and CSO were taken to the Force Headquarters last Thursday and have remained there since. 

Although the police have not publicly disclosed the reasons for their detention, several sources alleged that the action followed directives from the Inspector‑General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, reportedly acting on complaints linked to influential political interests within the APC.

PRNigeria could not independently verify claims regarding the origin of the directive.

The continued detention of officers responsible for the personal security of a sitting governor has generated unease within political and security circles, given their strategic role in the governor’s protection. 

Analysts note that the removal of both officers without a public explanation creates uncertainty around the governor’s security architecture at a politically sensitive moment. 

PRNigeria’s investigation indicates that the development is closely tied to an increasingly bitter contest for political influence within the Katsina State APC. 

Multiple party sources described the conflict as a struggle between two dominant blocs: one aligned with Governor Radda and another reportedly loyal to Alhaji Ibrahim Kabir Masari, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters.

According to the sources, disagreements between both camps have intensified in recent months over control of the party’s political structure ahead of the 2027 elections. 

Political observers believe the reported detention of the governor’s security aides represents one of the most serious manifestations of the internal crisis.

“The disagreement is no longer limited to party politics,” one senior APC member told PRNigeria on condition of anonymity, adding: “It is now affecting institutions that should remain completely insulated from political contests.” 

Party stakeholders expressed concern over what they described as a growing trend of deploying petitions and security investigations as political weapons during intra‑party conflicts. 

They noted that political actors increasingly resort to petitions against rivals, leading to invitations, interrogations or detentions that often generate public suspicion even before any wrongdoing is established. 

Security experts warn that such practices risk eroding confidence in the neutrality of security institutions. 

“When security agencies are perceived as instruments in political rivalries rather than impartial institutions, it weakens public trust and ultimately undermines national security,” one analyst observed. 

Observers also fear that the internal divisions could weaken the APC’s electoral prospects in Katsina, traditionally one of the party’s strongest bases. 

They warn that if unresolved, the rivalry could polarise party structures, disrupt campaign coordination and reduce voter mobilisation ahead of the next general election.

The Force Public Relations Officer and a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Anietie Iniedu, has dismissed claims that the development amounted to an arrest or detention.

Speaking to PRNigeria, Iniedu explained that the governor’s ADC and CSO were invited to Abuja by Disu for questioning over issues originating from Katsina State. 

He stressed that the officers were not invited on the basis of any alleged criminal offence, adding that preliminary investigations had so far established that neither officer had committed a crime. 

When asked by PRNigeria, the Force PRO said he would provide further clarification on whether the two officers had been released and had returned to Katsina State.

PRNigeria also contacted Maiwada Dammallam, the Director‑General of the Media Directorate at the Katsina Government House, for the government’s position on the matter.