Atiku's aide urges Tinubu to release detained ex-Kaduna Governor El-Rufai after 144 days

On July 9, 2026, Olanrewaju Rasheedat Paul Ibe, media aide to ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, issued a statement urging President Bola Tinubu to review the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, describing it as unfair and a political persecution under the guise of a sham legal trial. Ibe said El-Rufai has been held for 144 days and stressed that political power must serve the public good, not intimidate citizens. He insisted his appeal is based on fairness and the rights of every Nigerian, not on El-Rufai's political affiliation, and urged Tinubu to heed the pleas of El-Rufai's wives and release him unconditionally. The statement highlights growing opposition concerns about the use of state institutions to target political opponents ahead of the 2027 elections. Readers should consider what this claim means for political freedoms in Nigeria, watch for any official response from the Presidency or security agencies, and weigh the credibility of the claim against any official charges or court proceedings that may have led to El-Rufai's detention.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/09/144-days-release-el-rufai-unconditionally-atikus-aide-tells-tinubu/