ADC names El-Rufai deputy campaign chief despite detention, Momodu backs
ADC has named former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as Deputy Chairman of its presidential campaign council, even as he remains in detention. ADC chieftain Dele Momodu defended the appointment on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, describing El-Rufai as a “prisoner of conscience” whose detention is politically motivated. Momodu argued that El-Rufai’s sacrifice should be honoured, noting that the former governor chose to return to Nigeria despite knowing he could be arrested. He emphasized that El-Rufai remains a formidable political figure in Northern Nigeria, especially the Northwest—a region critical for any presidential candidate hoping to win nationwide. Momodu also pointed out that nearly four years ago El-Rufai actively campaigned for President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 election, questioning why his political influence would now be seen as a liability. The ADC’s decision to place El-Rufai on the campaign council, Momodu said, serves to dignify the former governor regardless of his ability to participate directly due to detention. The move highlights the opposition’s strategy to leverage El-Rufai’s Northwest base amid ongoing political tensions between him and the ruling APC.