By Muhammad Mamman
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has condemned the detention and ongoing trial of Nasir el-Rufai, describing it as an act of “political persecution”.
Obi made the remarks during a stakeholders’ meeting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) held in Kaduna, where he criticised what he called the unjust treatment of the former governor.
According to Obi, el-Rufai, who recently returned to Nigeria from Egypt voluntarily, is being handled “as though he were a fugitive”.
He argued that such actions undermine democratic principles and the rule of law, warning that the politicisation of legal processes could erode public trust in the country’s institutions.
“El-Rufai came back on his own. Treating him like a fugitive raises serious concerns about fairness and justice,” Obi said.
The comments come amid heightened political tensions, as opposition figures increasingly raise concerns over what they perceive as selective enforcement of the law against political actors.
Authorities have yet to respond publicly to Obi’s claims.
