THE African Democratic Party (ADC) has levelled serious accusations against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), claiming the government is deliberately keeping former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in custody to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the explosive claims during an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, insisting that the government has no intention of releasing El-Rufai until after the polls.
‘Impossible’ Bail Conditions
Abdullahi argued that while the ADC is not opposed to legitimate prosecution, the circumstances surrounding El-Rufai’s detention raise grave concerns.
“And I say let me establish the principle that ADC is not opposed to anybody who has a legitimate case to answer, from being prosecuted, but when you are holding someone in custody for bailable offences, and you proceed to continue to arraign that person and continue to set conditions for bail that are almost impossible for this person to meet, it creates room for us to believe that you deliberately intend to hold this person in perpetuity and you are just looking for legal loopholes to hold this person,” he said.
“What I can tell you is that 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. That’s what we believe in,” Abdullahi stated firmly.
Political Strategy Claims
The ADC spokesperson suggested that the government fears El-Rufai’s release would strengthen the opposition and expose uncomfortable truths.
“That is the plan, and that’s what they plan to do because they know that with Malam Nasir El-Rufai freed, the opposition is stronger, and they know that if they release him, he is going to remind them of certain things that they would rather forget,” Abdullahi explained.
“So that is why they want to hold him. And I’m telling you that we in the opposition believe that they are doing everything to make sure that Malam Nasir El-Rufai remains in custody until after the elections.”
Health Concerns Mount
Expressing deep concern over the former governor’s medical condition, Abdullahi warned that President Bola Tinubu would be held personally responsible should anything happen to El-Rufai while in detention.
“Now, having said that, this person has a medical condition. You may not intend it. But if you don’t allow this person to be, if you don’t allow Malam Nasir El-Rufai to receive the requisite medical help that he needed — because according to the report we got from the family, he was at the National Hospital a few days ago, and the hospital advised that he should be kept under watch because his health was failing,” he revealed.
“We have said it, and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, our presidential candidate, has said it. If anything happens to Malam Nasir El-Rufai in detention, President Bola Tinubu will be held personally responsible because the buck stops on his table. And we say that there is a political prisoner in Nigeria today, and his name is Malam Nasir El-Rufai.”
‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ Dismissed
Abdullahi further argued that every case against the ADC has been orchestrated to deny Nigerians a genuine choice in the 2027 election. He dismissed the government’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ as nothing more than an empty slogan, accusing the APC of being more focused on electoral manipulation than addressing the nation’s problems.
According to Abdullahi, the desire of opposition leaders to play a new type of politics was precisely what led to the coalition forming within the ADC.
El-Rufai’s Legal Battles
El-Rufai is currently facing multiple legal proceedings. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has brought a case of alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as governor at the Federal High Court.
Additionally, he is facing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of wire-tapping brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The court recently adjourned ruling on El-Rufai’s bail application to July 1, leaving the former governor in custody as his legal team continues to fight for his release.
The APC government has yet to issue an official response to the ADC’s allegations at the time of this report.
