By Adesakin Adefemi
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar paid a solidarity visit to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Thursday night, following a failed attempt by security operatives to arrest him at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Atiku disclosed the visit on his official Facebook page, stating that El-Rufai was “unfazed by the incident and remains committed to the battle to enthrone a better Nigeria.”
The incident occurred shortly after El-Rufai arrived from Cairo on EgyptAir flight MS 877. According to his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, Department of State Services (DSS) agents approached the former governor and demanded he follow them, despite not presenting a formal invitation or warrant. El-Rufai refused, insisting on a written summons, and witnesses at the terminal intervened, forcing the operatives to retreat.
Atiku condemned the attempted arrest as “a heavy-handed action” and “political intimidation” by the current administration. He called on authorities to respect the rule of law and warned that such actions could push citizens toward unrest if human rights continue to be violated.
El-Rufai, a prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has recently intensified his opposition politics, drawing criticism from the ruling party. His legal team alleged that the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) orchestrated the airport confrontation, a claim the agency has not publicly addressed.
The DSS later clarified that its operatives acted on a request from an anti-graft body—widely believed to be the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)—to seize El-Rufai’s passport, not to arrest him. However, the passport was taken from one of his aides before he was allowed to leave the terminal.
Atiku’s visit, which included several political associates, highlighted growing concerns within opposition ranks about the use of security agencies for political purposes. He warned that “the judiciary must not be used to undermine the ADC,” echoing fears that anti-corruption agencies are being weaponized against opposition figures.
El-Rufai’s lawyers confirmed that he will voluntarily appear before the EFCC on Monday, February 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. to address any outstanding issues. They maintained that the airport incident was unlawful and a breach of his constitutional rights.
The episode has sparked widespread debate across Nigeria’s political landscape, with analysts closely monitoring whether it signals a broader crackdown on dissent or remains an isolated flashpoint ahead of the 2027 general elections.
