Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has raised alarm that he expects to be arrested by the Federal Government soon, citing what he describes as a pattern of targeting opposition figures who have abandoned the ruling party.
Speaking during an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday, February 11, El-Rufai claimed that the detention of several of his former associates suggests he may be next in line for arrest.
The ex-governor, who recently left the All Progressives Congress for the African Democratic Congress, said four people he worked closely with during his time in Kaduna have already been taken into custody.
“Four people we worked with in Kaduna have been arrested; so it’s only a matter of time before they come for me too,” he said.
Whilst acknowledging he has not been detained yet, El-Rufai argued that the arrests of those connected to him indicate authorities may be moving in his direction.
He also accused the government of pressuring politicians to either join the APC or stay within the ruling party, claiming the current environment forces people to make political choices based on self-preservation rather than genuine belief.
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El-Rufai, who spent eight years governing Kaduna under the APC banner, has recently become increasingly vocal in his criticism of both President Bola Tinubu’s government and the party’s leadership.
His allegations come against the backdrop of the arrest and prosecution of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission initially charged Malami with abuse of office and money laundering before rearresting him on new accusations involving terrorism financing.
Malami, who has also reportedly defected from the APC to the ADC, has rejected all charges against him, characterising them as a “political witch-hunt” connected to his defection and opposition to the government.
As of the time this report was filed, neither the federal government nor the APC had issued an official response to El-Rufai’s claims about political persecution and his fears of arrest.