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 political strategy to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, claimed that the continued detention of the former governor was not driven by the pursuit of justice but by a calculated effort to keep him out of the political space until after the next general election.
Abdullahi maintained that the ADC is not opposed to the prosecution of anyone with a legitimate case to answer, stressing, however, that due process and the rule of law must be respected.
He accused the authorities of using prolonged court procedures and repeated delays in hearing El-Rufai’s bail applications to ensure he remains behind bars, describing the former governor as a political prisoner.
According to the ADC spokesman, the party believes the continued detention is aimed at weakening opposition forces and limiting El-Rufai’s political influence ahead of the 2027 polls.
The party vowed to continue demanding his release and insisted that any criminal allegations against him should be handled transparently and strictly in accordance with the law, without political interference.
El-Rufai is currently facing corruption-related charges filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), allegations he has denied.
The anti-graft agency has maintained that the prosecution is based on evidence and due legal process, while the matter remains before the courts.
