The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of obstructing access to former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, after a delegation comprising the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola; National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; and Secretary of the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee, Mallam Salihu Lukman, was denied access to him at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.…....
In a statement issued on Friday, May 22, 2026, the party also alleged a heavy security presence at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja when its delegation attempted to visit the detained politician.
The statement was signed by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress.
The statement read in part: “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) wishes to express its concern over the refusal of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to grant senior leaders of our party access to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State and a prominent leader of our party, who remains in the custody of the Commission.”
According to the party, a delegation led by its National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and the Secretary of the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee, Mallam Salihu Lukman, visited the ICPC headquarters in Abuja to seek access to El-Rufai, but was denied entry despite prior communication.
Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, a former Governor of Kaduna State, is a prominent figure within the opposition ADC.
The party said: “Earlier today, alongside the National Secretary of our party, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and the Secretary of the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee, Mallam Salihu Lukman, we visited the headquarters of the ICPC in Abuja to see Mallam El-Rufai. Despite prior communication and formal requests, we were denied access without any reasonable explanation.”
The ADC further alleged that the situation escalated when security operatives were deployed in large numbers during the visit.
“While we were at the premises awaiting a response to our request, the atmosphere suddenly became noticeably tense after no fewer than three truckloads of armed police officers arrived at the facility. The heavy deployment, which appeared entirely unnecessary and disproportionate to the peaceful presence of unarmed political leaders, created the unmistakable impression that the authorities feared that the mere presence of opposition leaders at the Commission could trigger public outrage,” the statement added.
Describing the security response as excessive, the party said it viewed the development as an attempt to intimidate opposition figures.
“It is deeply troubling that a simple request by senior party officials to visit a detained colleague was met, not with professionalism, but with a show of force more suited to the suppression of civil unrest. At no point did members of our delegation threaten disorder, incite confrontation, or mobilise supporters to the premises. Yet the response of the state suggested panic, fear, and an attempt to intimidate not only our party leaders, but also any Nigerian who may dare to question the treatment being meted out to opposition figures,” it stated.
The ADC further warned against what it described as the increasing use of state institutions for political intimidation.
“Such actions only reinforce growing public concern that state institutions are increasingly being used, not merely for law enforcement, but as instruments of political pressure and psychological intimidation against dissenting voices,” the statement said.
The party noted that it had earlier written formally to the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, requesting visitation rights to El-Rufai, citing concerns over his welfare and access to family and medical care.
“It is important to state that the National Secretary of the ADC had previously written officially to the Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, requesting visitation rights to Mallam El-Rufai, especially in light of growing public concerns regarding his wellbeing and reports that he has faced repeated restrictions on access to family members and medical personnel,” the statement read.
Reaffirming its position, the ADC insisted that El-Rufai’s rights must be respected.
“Let it be clear: Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is not a fugitive. He voluntarily submitted himself to the authorities. Under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he is entitled to dignity, medical care, family access, and fair treatment under the law. What we are witnessing increasingly appears to be punishment by process, intimidation through isolation, and an attempt to break the spirit of a leading opposition figure,” it stated.
The party added that it would not relent in its opposition to what it called harassment of its members.
“The ADC will not stand by and watch one of its leaders subjected to this pattern of harassment and calculated humiliation. Nigeria is watching. The international community is watching. The world is watching,” it declared.
The statement concluded with a formal demand for unrestricted access to the detained former governor.
