The African Democratic Congress has raised serious alarm over the condition of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, accusing the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of using state institutions to silence opposition voices.
In a strongly worded statement released on May 18, 2026, the party claimed El Rufai’s health is getting worse while in detention. The ADC said his family reported that security authorities blocked his personal doctors from seeing him and also stopped his wife from bringing him food while in custody.
The statement, signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the situation as a direct attack on El Rufai’s human rights, dignity, and health.
According to the ADC, the case has gone beyond law and entered the territory of political intimidation.
The party claimed El Rufai voluntarily submitted himself for investigation in February but has remained trapped in what it described as endless detention despite being granted bail in April. The ADC argued that the government has deliberately created obstacles to stop his release.
The opposition party did not hold back in its accusations, calling El Rufai a “political prisoner” and insisting that the Nigerian government is targeting him because of his growing influence within the opposition movement ahead of future political battles.
The ADC also questioned what it called selective justice in Nigeria. The party compared El Rufai’s detention to the treatment of former governors facing corruption allegations.
It mentioned Yahaya Bello, who is facing allegations linked to an alleged N80.2 billion money laundering case, and Ifeanyi Okowa, who was reportedly investigated over alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion in derivation funds.
According to the ADC, both men are currently free, while El Rufai remains behind bars despite cooperating with authorities.
The party accused President Tinubu of turning anti corruption and security agencies into political weapons against perceived enemies. It warned that democracy in Nigeria is under threat if court orders and constitutional rights can be ignored at will.
The ADC said the refusal to allow El Rufai proper medical care and family access raises fears about his safety and wellbeing.
In its strongest warning yet, the party declared that President Tinubu, the ICPC, the EFCC, and all security agencies involved would be held responsible if anything happens to El Rufai or if his condition worsens further.
The ADC also revealed that it has already activated legal and political measures both inside and outside Nigeria to push for El Rufai’s release. According to the party, local, continental, and international channels are being explored to challenge what it described as political persecution.
The statement has already sparked heated reactions across the political space, with supporters and critics clashing online over claims of abuse of power, selective justice, and the future of opposition politics in Nigeria.
