The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has warned that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be held responsible if anything happens to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai while in detention.
Abdullahi made the remarks during an interview on Symfoni, alleging that El-Rufai’s continued detention is politically motivated and aimed at preventing him from playing a key role in the 2027 general election.
According to him, the former Kaduna governor is not being held because he has been found guilty of any offence, insisting that only the courts have the authority to determine his guilt or innocence.
He claimed the Federal Government was deliberately keeping El-Rufai in custody to weaken the opposition and stop him from strengthening the ADC ahead of the next election.
El-Rufai is currently facing separate legal proceedings. The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting him on a five-count amended charge over allegations of unlawfully intercepting telephone conversations linked to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. He is also standing trial before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a nine-count charge, while his bail application was rejected earlier this month.
Abdullahi further argued that El-Rufai played a significant role in rallying northern political support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election despite pressure from some northern politicians to field another candidate.
He also alleged that El-Rufai’s health had deteriorated in detention, warning that the President would be held accountable should anything happen to the former governor.
Abdullahi urged the government to grant El-Rufai bail and allow him to defend himself in court, adding that the ADC would investigate the circumstances surrounding his detention if it wins power.
The remarks come after El-Rufai’s wives appealed to President Tinubu to intervene and facilitate his release.
