Tinubu will be held responsible if anything happens to El-Rufai – ADC spokesperson

The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, has warned that President Bola Tinubu will 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 this claim by arguing 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 spokesperson said the former governor’s case should be allowed to proceed 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 the decision would be left to the court. Let the court declare whether he is guilty or not guilty.

“But continuing to detain him indefinitely speaks to something else, and that is why it is clear to us that the intention of this APC government is to continue to detain Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to ensure that he does not participate in these elections and does not strengthen the opposition.”

El-Rufai is facing charges from the Department of State Services over allegations bordering on illegal interception of telephone conversations linked to National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

He is also being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission on a separate nine-count indictment. His bail plea was earlier rejected by the court.

Abdullahi said 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 mobilizing northern support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential elections, despite opposition from some northern politicians.

He said: “When some people in the north were saying that they should run in the 2023 elections, it was Mallam Nasir el-Rufai who mobilized the entire north behind President Bola Tinubu, together with other people.”

The ADC spokesperson further said that el-Rufai’s health condition has worsened, warning that any negative development involving the former governor could trigger serious political consequences.

“I repeat it here. If, God forbid, anything were to happen to Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, President Bola Tinubu should realize, even if he didn’t want it, that he would be held personally responsible for it and the consequences cannot even be imagined,” Abdullahi said.

He urged the federal government to release el-Rufai on bail to continue defending himself in court or allow the legal process to determine his fate.

Reacting to this development, political observers said the controversy over el-Rufai’s trial could further intensify political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, as opposition parties seek to consolidate their platforms.

However, authorities argued that legal proceedings against individuals are based on accusations and due process rather than political considerations.

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