The camp of the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Drivetvnews gathered that El-Rufai has reportedly spent 200 days in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission since his detention.
In a statement issued by Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, the former governor was described as being entitled to justice, due process and equal treatment under the law.
Ibe alleged that El-Rufai was being held because of his decision to pursue a different political path, describing him as a political prisoner.
The statement also compared El-Rufai’s situation with that of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, who is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission but remains politically active.
Atiku’s camp questioned what it described as an apparent difference in the treatment of opposition politicians and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The statement further accused government institutions, including the police, EFCC, ICPC and some judicial actors, of being used to put pressure on opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It argued that if the APC and President Bola Tinubu were confident in their popularity and record in office, they should seek another mandate through campaigns and the ballot box rather than through actions allegedly targeted at opposition figures.
Atiku’s camp maintained that political opponents should be defeated by voters and not through detention, intimidation or prolonged legal battles.
It also warned that using state power to weaken political competition could have broader implications for Nigeria’s democracy, arguing that elections must remain free, fair and genuinely competitive.
