The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of planning to keep former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in custody until after the 2027 general elections. The party’s spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the allegation during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday. He claimed the APC is deliberately delaying El-Rufai’s release to weaken the opposition ahead of the elections. Abdullahi emphasized that while the ADC does not oppose prosecution for legitimate offences, it strongly objects to what it sees as politically motivated detention under bailable charges.
Abdullahi stated that holding El-Rufai in custody for offences that are legally bailable, while imposing impossible bail conditions, suggests a deliberate effort to keep him in prison indefinitely. “When you are holding someone in custody for bailable offences and you proceed to arraign that person and make impossible conditions for bail to meet, it creates room for us to believe that you deliberately intend to hold this person in perpetuity,” he said. He added that the ADC believes the APC has already made a decision to withhold El-Rufai’s release until after the 2027 elections.
According to Abdullahi, the APC is aware that El-Rufai’s freedom would significantly strengthen the opposition. He noted that El-Rufai’s presence in politics would serve as a reminder of past governance issues that the current administration may prefer to avoid. “They know that with Mallam Nasir El-Rufai freed, the opposition is stronger and they know that if they release him, he would remind them of certain things that they would rather forget,” Abdullahi said. He further accused the APC of taking every possible step to ensure El-Rufai remains behind bars until after the election.
The ADC’s stance highlights growing political tensions ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition parties increasingly scrutinizing the legal actions taken against prominent figures. While the APC has not officially responded to the claims, the allegations add to the broader narrative of political detention being used as a strategic tool in Nigeria’s electoral landscape. El-Rufai, a former governor and a well-known figure in Nigerian politics, has been in custody since his arrest on charges related to financial misconduct during his tenure.
As the 2027 elections draw nearer, the political environment is expected to become more charged, with legal and electoral battles likely to intensify. The ADC’s accusations against the APC underscore the high stakes involved in the upcoming elections and the importance of perceived fairness in the justice system. The case of Nasir El-Rufai is likely to remain a focal point in Nigeria’s political discourse in the coming months.
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