ADC Denounces Month-Long Detention of Nasir El-Rufai as Political Weaponization Under Tinubu Administration

The ADC party calls on the Tinubu government to release or charge Nasir El-Rufai, citing a 32-day detention as a violation of Nigerian constitutional rights.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 18, 2026, 12:09 PM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Independent

Constitutional Crisis Over Prolonged Executive Custody

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has formally challenged the continued detention of its prominent member and former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai. In a strongly worded statement released Wednesday, National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi characterized the situation as a profound breach of constitutional safeguards and a "dangerous descent into lawlessness." According to the party, El-Rufai has been held for over 30 days without formal charges, a timeline that exceeds the legal limits for detention without trial in a democratic society. The ADC maintains that the rule of law must dictate the actions of state agencies, regardless of the political stature of the individual in question.

The Sequential Nature of the Investigative Detention

The timeline of El-Rufai's custody suggests a revolving door of agency involvement that the ADC describes as a calculated effort to prolong his displacement from the political arena. Approximately 32 days ago, the former governor reportedly honored an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in what the party calls an act of good faith. However, just two days after his initial release, he was apprehended by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). This sequence of events has led opposition leaders to question whether the agencies are acting on genuine evidence or coordinated executive directives.

Allegations of Coercion and Restricted Access

Beyond the duration of the stay, the conditions of El-Rufai's confinement have sparked significant human rights concerns. The ADC claims that the former governor has faced severe restrictions, including being denied regular access to his family members and personal physician. Furthermore, the party alleges that El-Rufai is being subjected to coercion, with officials reportedly demanding he abandon his political rights and associations as a prerequisite for his freedom. Bolaji Abdullahi argued that these tactics represent a weaponization of state institutions designed to exchange basic liberties for political silence.