Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has stated that he will not make public the private efforts he made to demonstrate his support for his detained predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai. In an interview on Trust TV's Daily Politics, Sani emphasized that he has tremendous respect for El-Rufai and considers it inappropriate to publicize his actions. Sani's comments come amid growing scrutiny of his relationship with El-Rufai, who has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) since February 18, 2026.
El-Rufai has been detained by the ICPC over allegations of financial offences, and attempts to secure his bail have been unsuccessful. Sani distanced himself from a reported comment suggesting that El-Rufai should remain in detention until after the next general election, stating that the person who made the statement was speaking for themselves. Sani maintained that he has never spoken against El-Rufai and will not do so, citing his personal character and respect for those who have held public office before him.
Sani's approach to political relationships is guided by his personal character and respect for those who have held public office before him. He argued that he has always spoken well of his leaders and will continue to do so. The governor noted that people can only quote him saying good things about people, but have never quoted him saying bad things about his leaders. Sani prayed that he will not be led to speak ill of his leaders, emphasizing that it is better to quote him saying good things about them.
The remarks come against the backdrop of a prolonged political fallout between Sani and El-Rufai, who were once allies. Their relationship deteriorated after Sani succeeded El-Rufai as Kaduna governor in 2023. El-Rufai supported Sani's political rise, backing his election to the Senate in 2019 and his governorship ambition in 2023. However, tensions became increasingly public after the change of administration, with issues including financial liabilities and a probe initiated by the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
In March 2024, Sani's government stated that it inherited $587 million in debt, N85 billion in domestic liabilities, and 115 contractual liabilities from the El-Rufai administration. The state assembly subsequently set up a committee to examine loans, grants, and project implementation between 2015 and 2023. The relationship further deteriorated in February 2025 when El-Rufai publicly stated that he was no longer friends with Sani, criticizing the governor's defence of President Bola Tinubu's administration.
El-Rufai alleged that federal reimbursements and other interventions to Kaduna State influenced Sani's political position, which Sani rejected. El-Rufai subsequently left the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in November 2025. This development widened the political divide between him and Sani, who remains in the APC. El-Rufai has since become a prominent critic of the Tinubu administration and has been involved in opposition efforts ahead of the 2027 elections.
El-Rufai's detention has attracted attention due to allegations against him and its implications for political alignments in Kaduna and nationally. The ICPC accused El-Rufai, a former aide, and five corporate entities of alleged corruption and money laundering, linked to an N8.68 billion closed-circuit television surveillance contract for Kaduna metropolis. El-Rufai has challenged aspects of the investigation and detention, denying wrongdoing in the cases against him.
Key points
- Governor Uba Sani will not disclose private efforts to support detained predecessor Nasir El-Rufai.
- Sani and El-Rufai's relationship deteriorated after Sani succeeded El-Rufai as Kaduna governor in 2023.
- El-Rufai has been detained by the ICPC since February 18, 2026, over allegations of financial offences.
