African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is deliberately keeping former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in detention to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the claim during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday.
According to him, the APC-led Federal Government believes El-Rufai’s release would strengthen opposition forces and mount greater pressure on the ruling party before the next general election.
Abdullahi said the ADC was not opposed to the prosecution of anyone with a legitimate case to answer but questioned El-Rufai’s continued detention over what he described as bailable offences and the stringent bail conditions imposed on him.
“ADC is not opposed to anybody who has a legitimate case to answer from being prosecuted,” he said.
He added, “The thinking within the ADC is that the APC government has concluded that they will not release Malam Nasir El-Rufai until after the elections.”
According to him, the government considers El-Rufai’s continued detention politically advantageous because his freedom could bolster the opposition ahead of the 2027 polls.
Abdullahi also expressed concern over the former governor’s health, saying El-Rufai required adequate medical attention while in custody.
“If anything happens to Malam Nasir El-Rufai in detention, President Bola Tinubu will be held personally responsible,” he said.
The ADC spokesperson further accused the Federal Government of focusing more on the 2027 elections than addressing the country’s pressing socio-economic and security challenges, describing the Renewed Hope Agenda as “just a slogan that does not mean anything.”
El-Rufai is currently facing charges of alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State in a case instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
He is also standing trial in a separate alleged wiretapping case filed by the Department of State Services (DSS). Both matters remain before the courts.
