Former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s media aide, Paul Ibe, has criticised the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, saying the former governor has spent 200 days in detention as of Friday, September 4, 2026.
Ibe, in a statement, said El-Rufai was not seeking immunity from investigation but was entitled to justice, due process and equal treatment under the law.
“He is not asking for immunity from investigation. He is entitled to justice, due process and equal treatment under the law.”
He questioned what he described as an apparent disparity in the treatment of opposition politicians and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“But Nigerians have every right to ask: why does the law appear so aggressive against opposition politicians and so accommodating to politicians in the ruling APC?”
Ibe described El-Rufai as a political prisoner, alleging that his detention was linked to his decision to pursue a different political path.
He contrasted the former governor’s situation with that of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who is facing an ongoing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission but remains politically active and has secured the APC’s senatorial ticket.
“Nobody should be above the law. But neither should the law become a political weapon.”
Ibe alleged that state institutions, including the police, EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, as well as elements of the judiciary, were being used to mount pressure on opposition figures ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The pattern is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore: police, EFCC, ICPC and other state institutions, including a rogue element of the judiciary, have ‘Emilokanised’ into instruments of pressure against opposition figures as 2027 approaches.”
He challenged the APC to campaign on the record of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration if it was confident of winning the support of Nigerians.
“If the APC believes Nigerians love its record of hunger, inflation, high fuel and electricity prices, high cost of living and crushing poverty, let it campaign on that record.”
The former presidential aide also urged President Tinubu to seek another mandate through the ballot box rather than through what he described as pressure on opposition leaders and their supporters.
“If Tinubu believes he deserves another mandate, let him earn it at the ballot box and not with a gun to the heads of the opposition leaders and the citizens they seek to govern.”
Ibe said opposition parties should be defeated through votes rather than through detention, intimidation or prolonged legal battles.
“The opposition should be defeated by voters—not detained, intimidated or buried under endless litigation.”
He argued that democracy should not be limited to the conduct of elections but must also guarantee a level playing field for political competition.
“Democracy is not simply about holding elections. It is about ensuring that those elections are genuinely free and competitive.”
Ibe warned that the alleged use of state power against opposition figures could have wider implications for Nigeria’s democracy.
“Today, it is El-Rufai. Tomorrow, it could be anyone.”
He added that the use of government machinery to restrict political competition ahead of elections would ultimately undermine the democratic process.
“If state power is used to clear the political field before Nigerians get to vote, then the greatest casualty will not be the opposition. It will be Nigerian democracy.”
Ibe concluded by insisting that the outcome of the 2027 elections should be determined by Nigerian voters.
“2027 must be decided by THE PEOPLE—not by the machinery of government.”
