BY UCHECHI OKPORIE
Former Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, urged political allies on Friday to intensify efforts to remove Nigeria’s current government, saying a controversial airport incident underscored what he called the administration’s disregard for democratic norms.
El-Rufai, a leading figure in the opposition African Democratic Congress, made the comments while speaking with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar during a solidarity visit after an alleged attempt by security agents to detain him upon arriving at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport from Cairo.
He said the episode which his team described as an unlawful attempt to arrest him without due process reinforced his conviction that the government is using state agencies for political ends and must be challenged ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
“My belief that we must work hard and not rest until March 2027, when this administration can be removed, has only been strengthened by what happened today,” El-Rufai said, according to his legal team.
El-Rufai’s aides alleged that security personnel approached him shortly after his flight landed but did not present any formal invitation or warrant before attempting to detain him, prompting him to refuse cooperation. They also claim his passport was taken before the operatives withdrew.
The incident has drawn sharp reactions from opposition figures, with Atiku Abubakar and others condemning it as an embarrassment and an example of executive overreach.
There has been no official statement from Nigeria’s security agencies confirming the attempted arrest or providing details of any investigation.
