Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to release former governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State. Shaibu described El-Rufai as a "political prisoner of conscience" and questioned why a prominent political rival should remain in custody if the government is confident that he poses no electoral threat. El-Rufai has been in detention since February 2026 amid investigations and separate legal proceedings.
El-Rufai is facing allegations arising from his tenure in Kaduna between 2015 and 2023, while the Department of State Services also brought a separate case against him over allegations involving the alleged interception of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu's telephone communications. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission confirmed his detention on February 18, saying he was being held in connection with ongoing investigations. Shaibu criticised the conditions attached to El-Rufai's release, describing them as excessively stringent.
Shaibu's comments come against the backdrop of Atiku's decision to appoint El-Rufai as deputy chairman of his 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, placing the former Kaduna governor within the opposition ADC's campaign structure ahead of the presidential election. El-Rufai has been in the custody of the ICPC since February 2026 and the commission has rejected claims that his detention was politically motivated. The ICPC said in May that he remained in custody because he had not fulfilled his court-approved bail conditions.
Shaibu stated that if the government truly believes El-Rufai poses no threat to Tinubu's electoral quest, then he should be released. "Let him test his strength in the open, and let Nigerians decide at the ballot who has the capacity to earn their mandate," Shaibu said. He described El-Rufai's detention as a contradiction to the principles of a democratic society, where citizens and political leaders should be free to participate in the electoral process.
El-Rufai recently spoke publicly about his prolonged legal difficulties in a statement titled "My Relationships and the Aftermath" dated September 23. He said his ongoing ordeal had given him an opportunity to reassess some relationships with former colleagues, friends and associates. El-Rufai stated that he had supported people and causes over the years based on his faith, upbringing, personal values and conscience, rather than expectations of gratitude or reciprocity.
El-Rufai also stated that his experiences could lead him to reconsider the nature of certain relationships. However, he said he had no regrets about standing by people or causes he believed in and would not seek revenge over what he regarded as injustice or injury. El-Rufai expressed his commitment to remaining at peace with his conscience and with Almighty Allah.
The detention of El-Rufai has sparked concerns about the use of detention as a means of silencing political opponents. Shaibu's challenge to President Tinubu to release El-Rufai has highlighted the need for the government to ensure that the rights of citizens and political leaders are respected. The case has also raised questions about the independence of Nigeria's anti-corruption agencies and the fairness of the country's electoral process.
Key points
- El-Rufai's detention has been described as a "political prisoner of conscience" by Phrank Shaibu, aide to Atiku Abubakar.
- The ICPC has rejected claims that El-Rufai's detention was politically motivated, saying he remained in custody because he had not fulfilled his court-approved bail conditions.
- Atiku Abubakar has appointed El-Rufai as deputy chairman of his 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, placing him within the opposition ADC's campaign structure ahead of the presidential election.
