How APC Director died in kidnappers den

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has shut down its national secretariat in Abuja following the tragic murder of its Director of Administration, Hon. Lateef AbdulRaif Adekunle Adeniji, who was recently confirmed dead after being abducted nearly two months ago.

The closure, effective immediately, was communicated via an internal memo dated Thursday, April 10, and signed by the Deputy Director of Administration, Ubagba Abel. The memo stated that all official and party activities at the secretariat located at 40 Blantyre Street, Wuse 2, would remain suspended until Monday, April 14, 2025.

“This decision was made after [the National Secretary] received the news of the sad demise of the Director of Administration, Late Hon. AbdulRaif Adekunle Adeniji,” the memo read.
“All staff are advised to use this period of mourning for sober reflection and prayers for the family and the loved ones.”

Kidnapped, Ransomed, and Killed
Adeniji was abducted in Kubwa, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, nearly two months ago. Despite efforts to secure his release, including the reported payment of N50 million ransom by the party, he was found dead—sending shockwaves through the APC hierarchy and the political community at large.

Although full details of the circumstances surrounding his death remain sketchy, sources within the party expressed deep frustration and sorrow, describing the development as a “failure of the nation’s security architecture.”

“We did everything humanly possible, and yet this is the outcome,” said a senior APC official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “This is a moment of mourning and national introspection.”

Party Mourns, Security Questions Mount
The APC secretariat has been a hub of activity in recent months, with party officials working on internal restructuring and strategizing ahead of upcoming elections. The sudden loss of a top administrator has cast a pall over those efforts.

This incident adds to the growing number of high-profile abductions and killings that have plagued Nigeria’s capital and its environs, drawing renewed attention to the nation’s worsening insecurity.

While the APC has yet to issue a formal statement beyond the internal memo, party members have taken to social media to express condolences and demand justice for Adeniji’s family.

“This is heartbreaking. A good man lost to a system that is fast losing grip on basic security,” wrote one party youth leader on X (formerly Twitter).

Looking Ahead
With operations suspended until Monday, it is expected that the APC leadership will convene in the coming days to both mourn and strategize on how to handle the fallout from this tragedy, both internally and in terms of public trust.

As of the time of filing this report, security agencies have yet to release an official update regarding arrests or investigations related to Adeniji’s kidnapping and murder.