By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, is politically motivated and aimed at preventing him from participating in the 2027 general elections and strengthening the opposition.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, made the allegation during an interview on SymfoniTv, where he also warned that President Bola Tinubu would be held responsible if anything untoward happened to the former governor while in custody.
El-Rufai is currently facing a five-count amended charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations that he unlawfully intercepted telephone conversations linked to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
He is also standing trial before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a nine-count charge, with his bail application having been dismissed earlier this month. His wives have since appealed to President Tinubu to intervene and facilitate his release.
Speaking during the interview, Abdullahi dismissed suggestions that El-Rufai’s detention was purely a legal matter.
“What is clear is that this is not about law; it is not about crime and punishment. It is politics,” Abdullahi said.
He argued that El-Rufai should be allowed to defend himself in court rather than remain in prolonged detention.
“If he committed any offence, let the court determine whether he is guilty or not guilty. But to continue to hold him indefinitely speaks to something else,” he said.
According to the ADC spokesman, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was allegedly seeking to keep El-Rufai out of the political arena ahead of the 2027 elections.
“It is clear to us that the intention of this APC government is to continue to hold Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to ensure that he does not participate in this election and does not strengthen the opposition,” Abdullahi alleged.
The former Minister of Youth Development also recalled El-Rufai’s role in mobilising northern political support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election.
He claimed the former Kaduna governor was instrumental in rallying support for Tinubu at a time when some northern politicians wanted the presidency to remain in the region.
Abdullahi further said he had seen videos in which Tinubu allegedly appealed to El-Rufai not to leave the country because his administration would need his support.
Questioning the circumstances surrounding the former governor’s current predicament, Abdullahi said recent developments had fuelled speculation about political motives behind his detention.
He warned that the President would be held accountable should anything happen to El-Rufai while in custody.
“If, God forbid, anything happens to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, President Bola Tinubu should realise that he would be held personally responsible, even if he did not intend it,” he said.
2027: El’rufai incarcerated to stop him from working against Tinubu — ADC
