The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu regarding the potential ramifications should anything adverse happen to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who is currently in detention. Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, emphasized that Tinubu would bear personal accountability if El-Rufai suffers any harm while in custody.

El-Rufai was detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in February 2026 due to allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and money laundering during his administration. His detention was sanctioned by a Magistrate Court in Abuja, which initially granted a 14-day remand order under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, and has since been extended. Abdullahi criticized Tinubu’s government, suggesting that El-Rufai’s detention is a strategic move to undermine opposition forces as the nation approaches the pivotal 2027 elections, highlighting the political motivations behind the ICPC’s actions.

In a new interview on Symfoni TV, Abdullahi said:

“Nasir El-Rufai is not being held today because he committed any crime as that would have been left for the court to decide, let the court pronounce that he’s guilty or not guilty.

“But to continue to hold him speaks to something else and that’s why it’s clear to us that the desire and intentions of this government is to continue to hold El-Rufai to ensure that he does not participate in this election and does not strengthen the opposition.

“That is exactly what they plan to do. I will repeat it here that if, God forbid, anything happens to El-Rufai, President Bola Tinubu should realize even if he didn’t intend it that he would be held personally responsible and the consequences can’t be imagined.”