African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Barde Mohammed has alleged that the detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is politically motivated, claiming President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) fear his political influence.
Speaking in an interview aired on Trust TV’s official YouTube channel on Thursday, July 9, 2026, Mohammed claimed El-Rufai played a key role in Tinubu’s emergence as the APC’s presidential candidate and later persuaded northern governors to support power rotation to the South. He argued that Tinubu “owes Nasir gratitude.”
Mohammed rejected suggestions that El-Rufai’s legal challenges are solely judicial, alleging that political interests are driving the prosecution. He claimed other former governors facing more serious allegations remain free while El-Rufai continues to be detained, criticised the conditions attached to his bail and alleged that the judiciary had been compromised.
The interviewer challenged several of Mohammed’s assertions and referenced explanations previously provided by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) regarding the case.
Reaffirming the ADC’s support for the former governor, Mohammed said, “Nasir will come out. He will campaign. Nasir will be the nemesis of APC and Tinubu,” while maintaining that El-Rufai’s detention is politically motivated.
