Nasir El-Rufai faces ongoing detention amid political tensions

Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has accused President Bola Tinubu and his associates of being ‘ingrates’ toward former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. Galadima claimed that despite El-Rufai’s contributions to Tinubu’s 2023 presidential victory, the current administration has acted with hostility.

Galadima revealed that he previously warned El-Rufai to consider exile to avoid imprisonment. He further stated that he approached Rabiu Kwankwaso, the NDC presidential running mate, to urge him to persuade El-Rufai not to return to Nigeria from Egypt. According to Galadima, El-Rufai eventually returned despite these warnings, an act he described as bravery.

El-Rufai was arrested in February 2026 upon his arrival from Egypt and has faced various charges from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS). These allegations include corruption, contract fraud, cybercrime, and phone-tapping. Although the Abuja Federal High Court granted him N100 million bail in May, he remains in custody due to an inability to meet the bail conditions.