Peter Obi Calls El-Rufai’s Detention “Political Persecution” as Former Governor Passes 30 Days in Custody

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has spoken out about the arrest and detention of ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. Obi says El-Rufai is being targeted for political reasons and warns that what is happening is dangerous for Nigeria’s democracy.

Obi made these comments on Sunday, March 22, when he spoke to members of the African Democratic Congress in Kaduna. He said the situation is a serious threat to the rule of law in Nigeria.

“It is a political persecution. We have a law that allows people to be treated with dignity until they are found guilty. Let our law prevail,” Obi said. He also questioned why El-Rufai, who came back to Nigeria on his own, is being treated like a criminal who tried to run away.

How Did We Get Here?

El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 18, after he was transferred from the EFCC. The Department of State Services has also charged him with cybercrime, and his next court date is April 23, 2026.

A court had ordered that the ICPC could hold him for 14 days. That order expired on March 19, but El-Rufai remains in custody. Many people are asking why he has not been released or charged properly.

His family says the detention is unlawful and wants him freed immediately. His lawyers have accused the ICPC of abusing the court process and lying to the courts. The ICPC says it is investigating him for money laundering and abuse of office.

Obi Takes Aim at the Government

This was not the first time Obi spoke about El-Rufai’s situation. On March 9, he posted a statement on X saying the Tinubu government is using court cases as a weapon against opposition figures. He called on the government to stop what he described as the punishment of political opponents dressed up as legal action.

Obi also pointed out that both El-Rufai and former Attorney General Abubakar Malami had publicly said they wanted to remove Tinubu from power in the 2027 elections. He said their arrests shortly after making those statements raise serious questions about whether the government is motivated by politics rather than justice.

He also noted that El-Rufai has been moved between three agencies — the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS — and said this looks like the government is simply searching for something to charge him with.

Defending an Old Enemy

What many people find surprising is that Obi is defending someone who once attacked him. During the 2023 elections, El-Rufai called Obi a “tribal candidate” and a “Nollywood actor,” and supported Tinubu instead. Despite all of that, Obi is now one of the loudest voices calling for El-Rufai’s release.

The two men are now in the same party, the ADC, as they work together to challenge the current government ahead of 2027.

Obi made clear that he supports fighting corruption, but said the fight must be fair. “A credible anti-corruption and anti-wrongdoing campaign cannot afford to be selective,” he said, suggesting that the government should look at itself first before going after others.

As the next court date in April approaches, more voices from civil society, lawyers, and opposition politicians are joining the conversation.