ADC condemns continued detention of El‑Rufai, calls it political persecution dressed up as prosecution

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed grave concern over the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir Ahmad El‑Rufai, warning that his deteriorating health condition and alleged denial of medical access amount to a violation of his constitutional rights.

The party said, according to reports from El‑Rufai’s family, he has been denied access to his doctors, restricted from receiving food deliveries, and subjected to disregard of a court order granting him medical care. The ADC described these developments as a “dangerous assault on his dignity, health, and rights.”

“What is happening to Mallam El‑Rufai confirms beyond all doubt that this detention is no longer about justice; it is about politics. It also confirms our fears that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is deploying the instruments of state power to keep one of the leading opposition figures out of circulation. This is political persecution dressed up as prosecution,” said Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s spokesperson.

The party contrasted El‑Rufai’s situation with other high‑profile corruption cases, noting that former governors Yahaya Bello and Ifeanyi Okowa, accused of alleged multi‑billion naira fraud, remain free and politically active. “The contrast becomes stark and shameful,” Abdullahi said, accusing the government of selective justice.

El‑Rufai was first detained in February 2026 after voluntarily submitting himself for investigation. He was arraigned weeks later and granted bail in April, but the ADC claims the government has “contrived to keep him in detention perpetually.”

The party declared: “Mallam Nasir El‑Rufai is President Bola Tinubu’s political prisoner. This alone brings the President’s democratic credentials into disrepute.” It accused the administration of weaponising security and anti‑corruption agencies against opponents, warning that Nigeria is not under a dictatorship and that compliance with the rule of law cannot be subject to presidential discretion.

The ADC placed responsibility for El‑Rufai’s wellbeing on the ICPC, EFCC, and security agencies, cautioning that any deterioration in his health would be blamed on them. The party also announced that it has activated mechanisms at local, national, continental, and international levels to secure his release.

“By every practical definition, Mallam Nasir El‑Rufai has become a political prisoner in Nigeria,” the statement concluded.