Former Kaduna State Gov. Nasir El-Rufai said Wednesday that he could be arrested by Nigeria’s federal government, alleging growing political intimidation against opposition figures.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, El-Rufai said four of his former associates in Kaduna had been detained, suggesting he could be next.
“Four people we worked together with in Kaduna have been arrested; so it’s only a matter of time before they come for me too,” he said.
El-Rufai, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress to the African Democratic Congress, said he had not been arrested but viewed the detention of his associates as a signal of possible action against him.
He also alleged that politicians were facing pressure to either defect to the APC or remain in the ruling party, saying the current political climate was forcing decisions driven by survival rather than conviction.
El-Rufai governed Kaduna State for eight years on the APC platform and has recently intensified his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the party’s leadership.
His remarks come amid the arrest and ongoing trial of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has accused Malami of abuse of office and money laundering. The Department of State Services later rearrested him over fresh allegations related to terrorism financing.
Malami, who also defected to the ADC and is seeking the party’s governorship ticket in Kebbi State ahead of the 2027 election, has denied the allegations, describing the charges as politically motivated and linked to his defection.
The federal government and the APC had not publicly responded to El-Rufai’s claims as of Wednesday.
