The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has made a startling accusation, claiming that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is effectively being held as a political prisoner by President Bola Tinubu. This assertion came from Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, during an interview on Symfoni TV.
Abdullahi argued that the legal proceedings against El-Rufai are not about justice but are a calculated move to sideline him before the 2027 general elections. He pointed out that the charges brought against El-Rufai are all bailable, yet the court system is being manipulated to prolong his detention.
According to Abdullahi, the tactics include adjourning bail hearings and transferring cases to different courts, each time setting new distant dates for bail consideration. This, he says, is a deliberate strategy to keep El-Rufai out of the political arena.
“We are convinced that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is President Tinubu’s political prisoner,” Abdullahi stated. He emphasized that the ADC believes the rule of law should have secured El-Rufai’s release by now. Party leaders have been in discussions about how to escalate the matter both regionally and internationally.
Abdullahi recounted his presence in court during El-Rufai’s arraignment and a brief release for his mother’s burial before he was re-arrested. He vowed that the ADC will continue to push for El-Rufai’s freedom through all available channels.