2027: INEC is neutral; the opposition is only crying wolf,’ Tinubu says

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified its criticism of the Federal Government over the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, alleging that the move is politically motivated and aimed at preventing him from playing a role in the 2027 general elections.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, warned that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be held personally responsible if anything happened to the former governor while in custody.

Speaking during an interview on Symfoni, Abdullahi dismissed suggestions that el-Rufai’s detention was purely a legal matter.

“This is not about law. It is not about crime and punishment. It is politics,” he said.

According to him, if the allegations against el-Rufai were strictly criminal, the courts should be allowed to determine his guilt or innocence without prolonged detention.

“To continue to hold him indefinitely speaks to something else. It is clear to us that the intention of this APC government is to ensure that Mallam Nasir el-Rufai does not participate in this election and does not strengthen the opposition. That is exactly what they plan to do,” Abdullahi said.

He also linked the former governor’s ordeal to his political influence, recalling that el-Rufai was among key northern politicians who rallied support for Tinubu’s presidential bid in 2023 when some interests were pushing for a northern presidential candidate.

“When some people in the north were insisting that the presidency should remain in the region, it was Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, alongside others, who mobilised the entire north behind President Bola Tinubu,” he said.

Abdullahi further claimed that he had seen videos showing Tinubu appealing to el-Rufai not to leave the country because his administration would require his support.

He questioned what had changed between then and now, saying the circumstances surrounding the former governor’s detention had fuelled speculation about hidden political interests.

“So many things have happened that make people begin to wonder about the real forces determining these decisions,” he said.

The ADC spokesman also alleged that el-Rufai’s health had deteriorated while in detention and urged President Tinubu to intervene.

“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,” he said.

Abdullahi urged the Federal Government to grant el-Rufai bail and allow him to defend himself in court rather than keep him in custody.

“It’s either he releases Mallam el-Rufai on bail and allows him to face justice or he continues to hold him until the end of his tenure,” he added.

He also declared that the ADC would investigate the circumstances surrounding the former governor’s detention if it assumed power after the next general election.

“We would come into government. We would investigate what happened and due blames will be apportioned,” Abdullahi said.

El-Rufai is currently facing a five-count amended charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations of unlawfully intercepting telephone conversations linked to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

He is also standing trial before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a separate nine-count charge.

His application for bail was dismissed earlier this month, while his wives have appealed to President Tinubu to intervene and facilitate his release.

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