Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has urged the opposition to remain steadfast in its efforts to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, following an alleged attempt by security agencies to detain him at an airport.
During a visit by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, El-Rufai described the incident as “unfortunate, totally unnecessary, and probably criminal,” claiming operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) were used by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to detain him without prior invitation.
El-Rufai explained that while he had previously been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning, his lawyer had informed the commission that he was out of the country and would appear on Monday at 10 a.m. He emphasized that the ICPC had made no prior contact before the airport episode.
He alleged that the ICPC acted on orders from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and accused the government of politicizing security agencies. “We have reduced security agencies to be arms of a political party and a government that knows it is unelectable and wants to remain in power at all cost,” he said.
El-Rufai reiterated his commitment to the opposition’s mission, stating, “What happened today has further reinforced my belief that we must work hard. We must not sleep between now and March 2027 until we remove this tyrant from office.”
The former governor warned that such actions threaten democratic institutions and the rule of law. He framed the airport incident as part of a broader pattern of executive overreach aimed at consolidating power, emphasizing the need for vigilance and active political engagement leading up to the next general elections.
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