ADC's Defense of El-Rufai Labeled Political Propaganda Amidst Prosecution

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is employing what is described as political propaganda and conspiracy theories in its defense of chieftain Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who is currently facing prosecution. The party's National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, alleged that the federal government plans to keep El-Rufai in custody until after the 2027 general elections, a claim the article dismisses as a false alarm intended to intimidate the justice system.

The article strongly refutes the ADC's narrative by highlighting Nigeria's constitutional democracy and the doctrine of separation of powers. It clarifies that neither the President nor any executive body files criminal charges or grants bail; these functions are handled by independent statutory agencies like the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), with courts determining bail applications and ruling on evidence.

Accusations that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally controls judicial decisions are deemed an affront to the independence of Nigeria's courts. The article criticizes the ADC for simultaneously claiming to defend democracy while implying that judges merely follow presidential directives, calling such allegations insulting and demanding credible evidence rather than political speculation.

Furthermore, the piece challenges the portrayal of El-Rufai as a "political prisoner." It asserts that he is not being prosecuted for his political beliefs, criticism of government policies, or electoral aspirations. Instead, he is answering criminal charges stemming from his tenure as governor of Kaduna State and an alleged unlawful interception of communications. The article emphasizes that the courts are the proper venue to determine the veracity of these allegations, characterizing this process as due process. The ADC's attempts to shift the proceedings from the courtroom to political rhetoric are seen as a misunderstanding of constitutional democracy.