I Am A Victim Of Political Persecution – El-Rufai Alleges

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Detained former Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai has described his present ordeal as a cross he has to bear because of his membership of the opposition Coalition platform the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

In two written statements said to have been submitted to the the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC , El-Rufai a leading figure in the ADC ,said he is facing political persecution at the hands of the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressive Congress APC Federal Government of Nigeria owing to his political preferences.

The Source reports that El-Rufai, who is currently facing multiple inter-agency prosecutions over allegations of corruption, wire-tapping of the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser NSA ,and other security related issues, has been in custody since February 16, 2026, when he voluntarily honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Abuja.

He regretted that the attempt to cow and silence him by the powers that be is traceable to the fact that he is aligned with and connected to the formation, and growing influence of the only  surviving opposition party in the country as at today – the ADC.

In the statement which is part of the documents attached to the counter-affidavit filed by the ICPC in the N1 billion fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by El-Rufai at the Federal High Court Abuja, El-Rufai, also, declined to make any statement before the anti-graft Commission, preferring instead to  offer his defence before a court of competent jurisdiction.

In the first of the two statement, the former Kaduna Governor while providing his personal resume including  his political choices and acknowledging the cautionary note read to him by the ICPC , however insisted that based on the advice of his legal representative,  Ubong Akpan, he will prefer to remain silent ,and respond to the allegations against him before a Court of competent jurisdiction.

In the statement, El-Rufai admitted to being a member of the ADC which he described as the only surviving opposition party in the country, insisting that he is being persecuted for being part of the forces behind the political platform.

According to him, until otherwise proven by a court of competent jurisdiction, he will continue to see himself as a victim of political oppression and persecution.

In his second statement said to have been filed on February 20,2026 , El-Rufai reaffirmed his earlier position as contained in the first statement , particularly his resolve to only respond to the allegations against him in the court

The Source further reports that the position of El-Rufai perfectly aligns with that of the ADC which. on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, expressed serious concern over the alleged persecution of the former Kaduna Governor and former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN, by agents of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In a statement from its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC condemned what it described as discriminatory treatments being meted out to its members by the EFCC, ICPC and DSS.