The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, has warned that President Bola Tinubu would be held responsible if anything happens to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, who is currently facing legal battles.
Abdullahi, a former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, made the claim while alleging that el-Rufai’s continued detention was politically motivated and designed to prevent him from strengthening the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on Symfoni, the ADC spokesman said the former governor’s case should be allowed to run its course in court rather than keeping him in custody for what he described as an indefinite period.
He said, “Mallam Nasir el-Rufai is not being held today because he committed any crime, because that would have been left for the court to decide. Let the court pronounce that he’s guilty or he’s not guilty.
“But to continue to hold him interminably speaks to something else, and that is why it is clear to us that the intention of this APC government is to continue to hold Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to ensure that he does not participate in this election and he does not strengthen the opposition.”
El-Rufai is facing charges from the Department of State Services over allegations bordering on unlawful interception of telephone conversations linked to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
He is also being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on a separate nine-count charge. His bail application was earlier dismissed by the court.
Abdullahi alleged that the move against the former Kaduna governor was a political strategy by the ruling All Progressives Congress to weaken opposition forces ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to him, el-Rufai played a significant role in mobilising northern support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election despite opposition from some northern politicians.
He said, “When some people in the north were saying they must contest in the election of 2023, it was Mallam Nasir el-Rufai that mobilised the entire north behind President Bola Tinubu, along with other people.”
The ADC spokesman also claimed that el-Rufai’s health condition had deteriorated, warning that any adverse development involving the former governor could trigger serious political consequences.
“I’ll repeat it here. If, God forbid, anything happens to Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, President Bola Tinubu should realise, even if he didn’t intend it, that he would be held personally responsible and the consequences cannot even be imagined,” Abdullahi said.
He urged the Federal Government to either release el-Rufai on bail to continue defending himself in court or allow the legal process to determine his fate.
Reacting to the development, political observers said the controversy surrounding el-Rufai’s trial could further intensify political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, as opposition parties seek to consolidate their platforms.
However, authorities have maintained that legal proceedings against individuals are based on allegations and due process rather than political considerations.
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