The Northern Awareness Network (NAN) has condemned Senator Lawal Usman Adamu’s petition to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over a recent by-election in Kaduna State, describing the move as “misguided” and a distortion of the ICC’s core mandate.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Salihu Sulaiman, and made available to journalists on Thursday, the group said invoking the ICC in a local electoral dispute trivialises the global institution’s mission and undermines serious international justice mechanisms.
“The ICC was established to prosecute the gravest crimes — war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. To link a by-election dispute in Kaduna to the genocides in Rwanda or the atrocities in Darfur is both irresponsible and offensive to victims of such heinous crimes,” the statement read.
NAN described the senator’s petition as a “theatrical display” aimed at garnering attention rather than addressing the developmental challenges of constituents of Kaduna Central Senatorial District.
“The people expect their senator to address poverty, insecurity, education, and basic infrastructure.
Instead, we are witnessing a disturbing trend of political posturing and legal drama that has no bearing on the immediate needs of the electorate,” NAN said.
The group further stated that Senator Adamu’s actions have ridiculed his office and the democratic institutions he represents, warning that such political gimmicks erode public trust in the democratic process.
“Democracy thrives on accountability and sincere engagement with the people. Resorting to international legal bodies over domestic political disagreements only signals a lack of serious legislative focus and contributes to voter apathy,” the forum noted.
NAN also criticised the senator’s perceived lack of legislative achievements, stating that meaningful bills, motions, or constituency projects have not marked his tenure.
“Rather than delivering development, he has become fixated on personal political survival, ignoring the people he was elected to serve. This fixation undermines both his credibility and the expectations of the electorate,” the statement added.
The group called on Senator Adamu to reconsider his political approach and re-engage meaningfully with issues affecting his constituents.
“The people of Kaduna Central deserve better. They need representation grounded in vision, service, and substance—not international distractions or political theatrics,” NAN said.
It urged elected officials to uphold the principles of democracy and ensure that public office is used to advance the welfare of citizens, not personal ambitions.
