Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has strongly criticised the arrest and continued detention of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El Rufai. He described the whole situation as clear political persecution.
Obi spoke on Sunday March 22 2026 during a stakeholders meeting of the African Democratic Congress in Kaduna. He said the way El Rufai is being handled raises serious worries about democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria.
It is political persecution. We have a law and that law allows people to be treated with dignity until they are found guilty. Let our law prevail said Obi.
He questioned how the authorities invited El Rufai but then treated him like a fugitive who was running away. Obi pointed out that El Rufai came back to the country voluntarily on his own yet he is now being detained and tried in a manner that does not respect due process.
El Rufai has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in connection with ongoing investigations. The Department of State Services was also involved earlier in the matter.
Obi who is now aligned with the African Democratic Congress used the opportunity to warn that such actions against political figures could harm the democratic space especially as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
This latest statement from Obi comes at a time when opposition leaders are raising alarms over what they see as growing pressure on anyone who does not support the ruling party. It adds to the recent events involving Atiku Abubakar and Abubakar Malami where security agents moved quickly after opposition meetings.
Many Nigerians are now watching closely to see how the government responds to these criticisms. Supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress have in the past dismissed similar claims as mere political talk but opposition voices continue to insist that the rule of law must apply equally to everyone no matter their status.
Obi has maintained that every citizen deserves fair treatment under the law and that turning investigations into tools of persecution weakens the foundation of democracy. He called on all leaders to allow the law to take its proper course without bias. The development has further heated up the political atmosphere as different parties and leaders position themselves ahead of future polls.
