Atiku, Amaechi Visit El-Rufai Following Airport Stand-off with Security Operatives

ABUJA — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi paid separate late-night visits to the Abuja residence of Nasir El-Rufai on Thursday, February 12, 2026. The high-profile visits were staged as a show of solidarity following a tense confrontation earlier that day between the former Kaduna State Governor and security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The Airport Confrontation

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who recently joined the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), arrived in Abuja from Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday afternoon. Upon landing, he was reportedly met by operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) who attempted to take him into custody.

• Resistance: El-Rufai reportedly refused to follow the agents, demanding a formal invitation or an arrest warrant, which they were unable to produce.
• Public Intervention: Eyewitnesses and other airport users reportedly intervened during the stand-off, insisting that the operatives follow due legal process.
• Passport Seizure: While the arrest was thwarted, security agents allegedly seized El-Rufai’s international passport from one of his aides before he was allowed to leave.

Political Solidarity and Backlash 

Atiku Abubakar, long-time political heavyweight and 2023 PDP presidential candidate, visited El-Rufai late Thursday night to condemn the incident. Through his media team, Atiku described the attempted arrest as a “heavy-handed action” against an opposition figure and “political intimidation” by the Tinubu-led administration.

Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi also visited the residence, joining the chorus of voices calling the incident a violation of fundamental rights.

Official Clarifications

The Department of State Services (DSS) later clarified that their operatives did not attempt to arrest or detain the former governor. Instead, they stated that the seizure of his passport was done at the request of an anti-graft agency—widely reported to be the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)—to ensure El-Rufai honors an outstanding invitation.

El-Rufai’s legal team has confirmed that he is scheduled to appear voluntarily before the EFCC at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026.