The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government intends to keep former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in custody until after the 2027 general election.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, claimed the ruling party believes the opposition would be stronger if El-Rufai regains his freedom before the elections.

Abdullahi maintained that the ADC is not opposed to the prosecution of anyone facing legitimate criminal charges but expressed concern over what he described as efforts to frustrate El-Rufai’s release on bail.

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“The ADC is not opposed to anybody who has a legitimate case to answer being prosecuted. However, when someone is being held in custody over bailable offences and is arraigned under conditions that make it almost impossible to secure bail, it raises concerns that there is a deliberate attempt to keep the person in detention indefinitely,” he said.

He further alleged that the opposition believes the APC has already resolved not to release El-Rufai until after the 2027 polls.

“What I can tell you is that the thinking within the ADC is that the APC government has concluded that they will not release Mallam Nasir El-Rufai until after the election.

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“That is what we believe is the plan. They know that with Mallam Nasir El-Rufai free, the opposition would be stronger, and they also know that he would remind them of certain things they would rather forget,” Abdullahi stated.

He added that opposition parties believe every effort is being made to ensure the former governor remains in custody until after the elections. The APC and the Federal Government had not responded to the allegations at the time of filing this report.