The 2023 presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, paid a late-night visit to the Abuja residence of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
The visit, described by insiders as a “heavyweight show of solidarity,” comes just hours after operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) intercepted El-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and confiscated his international passport.
Atiku Abubakar arrived at El-Rufai’s residence under tight security, where he was received by the former governor and a few close associates. While the meeting was held behind closed doors, sources close to the former Vice President revealed that the visit was prompted by the “disturbing reports” of the DSS’s actions earlier in the day.
“His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, is a firm believer in the rule of law and the protection of fundamental human rights,” a source in the Atiku camp stated. “Regardless of political differences, the perceived harassment of former public officials without clear judicial warrants is a concern for all stakeholders in our democracy.”
The visit follows a dramatic afternoon at the Abuja airport where El-Rufai, returning from Egypt, was briefly detained while his travel documents were seized. Although the DSS characterized the move as a “standard procedure” to ensure he remains available for an anti-graft investigation, supporters of the former governor have labeled the act an “attempted arrest” and “political intimidation.”
The optics of Atiku—the leader of the main opposition party—visiting El-Rufai—a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who has recently fallen out of favor with the current administration—has sparked intense speculation.
“This is more than just a social visit,” said Dr. Chidi Amadi, a political commentator. “Atiku visiting El-Rufai at his lowest moment sends a powerful message to the Presidency. It suggests that the ‘enemy of my enemy is my friend,’ and we might be seeing the foundational blocks of a new political coalition ahead of the next electoral cycle.”
As of midnight, the atmosphere around El-Rufai’s residence remained charged, with several other political associates and supporters spotted arriving to offer their support. Despite the day’s events, sources say El-Rufai remained “spirited” during the visit, thanking the former Vice President for his gesture of statesman-like concern.
Neither Mallam El-Rufai nor Alhaji Atiku Abubakar addressed the press officially following the meeting. However, the images of the two leaders together are expected to dominate the national conversation in the coming days, as the public waits to see if the EFCC or DSS will make further moves against the former governor.
