Kaduna ADC Denounces Alleged Political Persecution Of Former Governor Nasir El-Rufai And Opposition Figures

The ADC in Kaduna State accuses authorities of using security agencies for the selective enforcement and political persecution of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 7, 2026, 10:27 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Channels Television

Allegations of Systematic Political Pressure

The Kaduna State chapter of the African Democratic Congress has raised an alarm over what it describes as a sustained pattern of political persecution aimed at former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and his political allies. During a press briefing in Kaduna on Tuesday, Professor Muhammad Sani-Bello, a party chieftain and former Commissioner of Education, expressed grave concern that recent actions against the former governor are politically motivated attempts to undermine opposition voices.

Selective Enforcement and Institutional Abuse

The ADC alleged that federal and state institutions, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and the Department of State Services (DSS), are being deployed selectively. According to the party, the recent arraignment of El-Rufai on corruption charges, combined with his prior exclusion from a ministerial role and investigations by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, suggests a coordinated effort to neutralize his influence.

Detention of Political Associates

A central point of the ADC's complaint is the reported harassment and arrest of several of El-Rufai’s close associates. The party specifically named individuals such as Bashir Saidu, Ja’afar Ibrahim Sani, Jimi Lawal, and Aisha Galadima as targets of state pressure. The opposition party claimed that prolonged detentions and frequently altered bail conditions for these individuals point to an abuse of judicial processes intended to instill fear among those not aligned with the current administration.