The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the Federal Government is deliberately keeping former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in detention as part of a plan to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the allegation on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
Abdullahi said the ADC was not opposed to the prosecution of anyone facing legitimate criminal allegations, but argued that the continued detention of El-Rufai despite facing bailable offences raised concerns about the government’s intentions.
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According to him, repeated court proceedings and what he described as stringent bail conditions suggest a deliberate effort to keep the former governor in custody.
He alleged that members of the opposition believe the government intends to detain El-Rufai until after the 2027 elections because of the influence he could have on opposition politics if released.
Abdullahi also expressed concern over El-Rufai’s health, saying the former governor recently received medical attention at the National Hospital and was advised to remain under close observation.
He warned that the opposition would hold President Bola Tinubu’s administration responsible should anything happen to the former Kaduna governor while in custody.
El-Rufai has remained in detention since February.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is prosecuting him on separate criminal charges before the Kaduna State High Court and the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
His applications for bail before the Kaduna State High Court have been dismissed on several occasions.
He is also facing prosecution by the Department of State Services (DSS) before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of unlawful wiretapping.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.