Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has pledged unwavering commitment to removing President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the 2027 elections, following what he described as an unlawful detention attempt by security operatives at an airport.
Speaking during a visit from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, El-Rufai said the incident has strengthened his resolve to challenge the current government.
“Your Excellency, I assure you that what happened today has further reinforced my belief that we must work tirelessly between now and March 2027 until we remove this government from office,” he stated.
El-Rufai characterized the airport episode as “unfortunate, completely unnecessary, and possibly criminal,” alleging that the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) deployed Department of State Services (DSS) operatives to detain him without prior notice or formal invitation.
While acknowledging that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had previously requested his presence, El-Rufai explained that his legal representative informed the commission of his travel status and confirmed his availability for Monday at 10 a.m. He insisted no communication had been received from the ICPC before the airport incident.
The former governor alleged the ICPC acted under directives from National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, accusing the administration of weaponizing security institutions for political ends. He warned that such practices threaten democratic norms and suggested the government fears losing power through electoral means.
“We understand it was the ICPC, not the EFCC, responsible for what happened. The ICPC chairman was acting on direct orders from Nuhu Ribadu,” El-Rufai claimed. “We have reduced security agencies to arms of a political party and a government that knows it’s unelectable and wants to remain in power at all costs.”
The incident has sparked concerns about the use of law enforcement agencies in political disputes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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