The African Democratic Congress has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of deliberately keeping former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in detention to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Channels Television on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, alleged that the Federal Government has no intention of releasing El-Rufai before the polls.
Abdullahi maintained that while the ADC does not oppose the prosecution of anyone with a legitimate case to answer, it believes El-Rufai is being held for political reasons.
“We are not against anyone being prosecuted if there is a genuine case. But when someone is kept in custody over bailable offences and bail conditions become almost impossible to meet, it raises questions about the real intention,” he said.
“The position within the ADC is that the APC government has already decided not to release Malam Nasir El-Rufai until after the 2027 elections. That is what we believe.”
According to him, the government sees El-Rufai as a key opposition figure whose release would strengthen the coalition challenging the APC.
“They know the opposition will be stronger if he is free. They know he will remind Nigerians of issues they would rather people forget. That is why they want to keep him in custody,” Abdullahi alleged.
He also raised concerns about El-Rufai’s health, claiming the former governor requires medical attention following advice from doctors at the National Hospital.
Abdullahi warned that President Bola Tinubu would be held responsible if anything happens to El-Rufai while in detention.
“If anything happens to Malam Nasir El-Rufai in detention, President Bola Tinubu will be held personally responsible because the buck stops with him. Today, Nigeria has a political prisoner, and his name is Malam Nasir El-Rufai,” he said.
The ADC spokesman further alleged that the cases against opposition figures are aimed at limiting political competition ahead of the 2027 elections.
He accused the APC-led administration of focusing more on retaining power than addressing Nigeria’s economic and security challenges, describing the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda as “just a slogan.”
Abdullahi said the opposition coalition under the ADC was formed to offer Nigerians a credible political alternative.
El-Rufai is currently facing charges of alleged financial misconduct during his time as Kaduna State governor in a case filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. He is also standing trial over alleged wiretapping charges brought by the Department of State Services.
