ADC alleges political motive in El-Rufai’s detention

• … Warns Tinubu govt against harm him

By Lateef Ibrahim

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is politically motivated and aimed at weakening the opposition ahead of the next general election.
Speaking during an interview on Symfoni TV, monitored in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, claimed that the Federal Government was deliberately keeping El-Rufai in custody to prevent him from playing a significant role in the 2027 political process.
Abdullahi further warned that the administration of President Bola Tinubu would be held accountable if any harm befalls the former governor while he remains in state custody.
According to him, El-Rufai has not been convicted of any offence, stressing that questions of guilt or innocence should be determined by the courts rather than prolonged detention.
He argued that the continued custody of the former governor reflects a political agenda rather than the pursuit of justice, insisting that the government’s objective is to sideline a key opposition figure.
Abdullahi also recalled El-Rufai’s role in Tinubu’s emergence as president, noting that the former Kaduna governor was among the prominent figures who backed Tinubu’s ambition despite opposition from some members of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The ADC maintained that El-Rufai’s detention is intended to diminish the strength of the opposition and urged the authorities to allow due process to take its course.