ABUJA, NIGERIA — In a scathing critique of Nigeria’s shifting political alliances, Prince Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has pointed to the ongoing detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as the ultimate political irony of the current dispensation.
Adebayo’s remarks come as El-Rufai, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), remains entangled in a web of high-profile legal battles, anti-corruption probes, and cybercrime charges. The former governor’s plight marks a dramatic fall from grace for a man who was once the chief strategist and most vocal defender of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) same-faith presidential ticket.
“Rotting in Jail Under the Ticket He Supported”
Reflecting on the swiftness with which yesterday’s kingmakers can become today’s targets of the state, Prince Adebayo observed that political solidarity built on religious and regional sentiment is ultimately fragile when confronted with the raw exercise of state power.
“Nasir El-Rufai, who was one of the strongest advocates of the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the last election, is now rotting in jail and cannot get justice, even under the very Muslim-Muslim ticket he supported.”
The SDP candidate’s critique cuts to the heart of the national conversation surrounding El-Rufai’s dramatic fallout with Aso Rock. Despite mobilizing Northern votes and defending the Tinubu-Shettima presidency against intense secular backlash, El-Rufai has found himself completely estranged from the center of power.
Two Fronts of Trouble: Wiretapping and N432 Billion Corruption
El-Rufai’s legal woes escalated rapidly in early 2026. His current predicament is divided into two major legal and security fronts:
1. The National Security Breach (Phone-Tapping Trial)
The federal government, through the Department of State Services (DSS), filed a three-count criminal charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026) against El-Rufai under the Cybercrimes Act and the Nigerian Communications Act.
- The “Open Confession”: During a live television broadcast on Arise News in February 2026, El-Rufai claimed that he had obtained intercepted, wiretapped audio recordings of National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu ordering security forces to arrest him.
- The State’s Response: Security investigators termed the claim an open admission of illegal surveillance. While El-Rufai pleaded not guilty and secured a ₦100 million bail, the prosecution has continued to tender damning television interview footage and witness statements in court.
2. The N432 Billion Legislative Probe
Simultaneously, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are squeezing the former governor over a massive ₦432 billion corruption probe stemming from his eight-year administration in Kaduna State. The investigations center around:
- Disputed cash payments and contract inflated funds.
- The alleged diversion of ₦1.37 billion meant for a Kaduna light rail project.
- Alleged money laundering activities by senior aides.
The Anatomy of El-Rufai’s Fall
| Timeline Event | Strategic & Legal Actions | Current Political Implications |
| 2023 Campaigns | Championed APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket; engineered northern support. | Expected to be rewarded with a super-ministerial portfolio in the new cabinet. |
| Late 2023 | Ministerial confirmation rejected by the Senate, citing “security clearance” issues. | Marked his initial estrangement from Aso Rock; later abandoned APC for the opposition ADC. |
| February 2026 | Resisted arrest at Abuja airport; subsequently made the “phone-tapping” claim on national TV. | Triggered immediate cybercrime charges and DSS-backed prosecution. |
| Mid-2026 | Facing active trials for wiretapping and detained under the N432bn anti-graft probe. | Highlighting Prince Adebayo’s point on the limits of past political favors. |
The Perils of Political Irony
Public affairs commentators have echoed Prince Adebayo’s sentiments, pointing out that El-Rufai’s current predicament serves as a sobering reminder of the volatility of Nigerian politics.
While the former governor’s legal team continues to fight the cybercrime charges and corruption probes—labeling them politically motivated witch-hunts—his continued confinement highlights a stark reality: in the game of high-stakes political chess, yesterday’s most reliable allies are just one TV interview or administrative fallout away from the prisoner’s dock.
247ureports.com will continue to provide updates as the trials of the former Kaduna Governor proceed in the Federal High Court.
