The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned the continued detention of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, describing his ongoing incarceration as a calculated attempt by the federal government to break the spirit of the political opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party categorically labeled El-Rufai a “political prisoner” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. The party expressed deep worry over reports coming from the former governor’s family, which alleged a systematic deterioration of his health, restricted access to his personal medical doctors, and strict limitations placed on his family members attempting to deliver food to him.

The political friction escalated further following a tense standoff at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) detention facility in Abuja. A high-level ADC solidarity delegation led by National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola and the Secretary of the Policy and Manifesto Committee, Salihu Lukman was abruptly denied access to visit El-Rufai without any reasonable explanation from the anti-graft agency. According to the party, the atmosphere at the facility became heavily militarized during their visit, marked by the sudden arrival of at least three truckloads of armed police officers.

The ADC argued that the legal proceedings against El-Rufai have completely transitioned from a pursuit of statutory justice into a coordinated political witch-hunt. The party noted that despite the former governor voluntarily honoring law enforcement invitations, submitting himself to investigation over the alleged diversion of public funds during his tenure, and being granted bail by a Federal High Court, security agencies have repeatedly ignored judicial directives. The family recently accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of unlawfully taking custody of the former governor directly after his court appearance in Abuja, violating existing orders that kept him in the administrative custody of the ICPC.

While the ICPC has firmly rejected the claims of mistreatment, describing the allegations of denied medical care and food restrictions as false and misleading, the ADC maintained that the state is actively deploying law enforcement institutions to silence critical opposition voices. The party warned that President Tinubu, alongside the leadership of the ICPC and the DSS, will be held fully responsible by the public should any permanent harm or negative health outcome occur to the former governor while under state confinement.