iDeemlawfulThere are mounting concerns within the African Democratic Congress over the detention of two of its leading figures, former Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Sunday PUNCH learnt that several party stakeholders fear the legal challenges facing the duo could disrupt internal activities.
Sources within the party described their detention as a significant setback to the coalition.
Malami, El-Rufai’s travails
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Malami, who served under the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, is being prosecuted over alleged money laundering amounting to N8.7bn.
In December 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
They were docked on 16 counts bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
On January 19, the former minister was re-arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services shortly after he was released on bail from the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, where he had been remanded.
After 14 days in DSS custody, Malami and his son were, on February 3, arraigned on five counts relating to terrorism and firearms offences.
The new charges add to Malami’s expanding legal battles, including separate money-laundering proceedings and an asset-forfeiture case before the Federal High Court.
El-Rufai, on his part, is facing investigations and charges involving the EFCC, ICPC and the DSS.
The former Kaduna State governor was arrested by the EFCC on Monday and freed on Wednesday evening.
However, he was immediately re-arrested by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and has remained in the commission’s custody.
El-Rufai is being tried for allegedly intercepting the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The charges, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, were filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, by the Federal Republic of Nigeria as complainant and El-Rufai as defendant.
ADC hit by detention
In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, the Kogi State Chairman of the ADC, Kingsley Ogga, expressed fears that the arrest of prominent opposition figures could destabilise the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ogga, who also chairs the ADC State Chairmen Forum, said the legal ordeals of Malami and El-Rufai had unsettled members and affected ongoing coalition discussions among opposition groups.
He stated that the arrests had generated apprehension among current and prospective members.
He accused the Tinubu administration of targeting opposition figures due to political anxiety.
“Definitely, the arrest of Malami and El-Rufai will affect the structure of the party because they are strong leaders we are relying on. If they are not on ground, it will deny the party a lot; their presence matters.
“Though I believe Malami can win the governorship election in Kebbi State even from detention, if allowed to pick the ticket, we also need him for other elections, particularly the presidential election. His presence matters a lot.
“The Tinubu government is intimidated by the popularity of El-Rufai and Malami; that is why they are detaining them. These people once worked for the APC. They know the party’s strategies and what it can do to win elections, and they are being silenced.
“Their detention will affect the party. Other leaders will be scared to openly support the ADC. Even those who are not yet members but are supporting us will be afraid to campaign openly because of fear of arrest and detention. There is nothing like freedom again, and without freedom, you cannot work for a political party,” Ogga said.
He added that some politicians who initially aligned with the ADC-led coalition had withdrawn following alleged threats of investigation by anti-graft agencies, including the EFCC and ICPC.
Ogga cited former Benue State governor Gabriel Suswam as an example.
“There are people who joined the coalition but left because of fear of arrest. Former Benue State governor Gabriel Suswam was actively part of the coalition in its early days but stepped back after alleged threats of probe.
“Suswam was among the North-Central leaders the ADC was counting on to win the region during the election. But I learnt that the APC and the Tinubu government threatened him with investigation.
“Many former governors, senators and House of Representatives members want to join us, but they cannot because of fear of being probed by the EFCC and ICPC. Some are supporting the party quietly.
“Some are APC in the day and ADC at night. Other former governors also want to join us, but they are being intimidated. You cannot be in government and have a completely clean slate; if scrutinised, mistakes may be found. We know how many senators we are talking to, and those who said they are coming but cannot publicly declare yet,” Ogga added.
Similarly, one of the zonal chairmen of the ADC described El-Rufai as one of the party’s “strikers,” noting that his oratory skills were unmatched.
The ADC leader, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said although the former governor ought to have exercised restraint in his remarks, the Federal Government was already moving to rein him in.
“El-Rufai is one of the opposition’s strikers. We don’t want anything to happen to him. We cannot afford to have him out of political activities for long. You cannot dispute his courage, intellect and oratory prowess. Currently, I don’t think anyone can easily fill his shoes — we should be honest.
“The Federal Government has been intimidating opposition leaders and others who want to join the ADC. Malami and El-Rufai’s travails have become a major concern for some chieftains of the party who think it will be easy to wrest power from the ruling party. We should be prepared for the worst,” he said.
Tinubu plans to kill democracy — ADC
Reacting, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, alleged that the Tinubu administration could undermine Nigeria’s democracy.
He described the arrests as part of a wider pattern of political pressure.
“We are warning them (APC and Tinubu) that if they are not careful, they could bring about the end of democracy in Nigeria with the way they are going about things.
“These are no doubt important leaders of our party, but what is happening is not entirely surprising. We know this government will do anything to weaken the opposition,” Abdullahi said.
He further alleged that the focus of accusations in Malami’s case had shifted.
“They have found what they consider a convenient excuse. In Malami’s case, they have moved away from corruption allegations to claims around terrorism funding. In the case of Nasir El-Rufai, they have also found what they believe is a basis to hold him. But we are not going to roll over. We are watching closely and we understand what is going on,” he said.
Abdullahi also claimed that several politicians who had concluded plans to defect to the ADC were allegedly harassed once their intentions became known.
He referenced Suswam, stating that he participated in early coalition meetings before stepping back under pressure.
“There are people who had made preparations to join us. As soon as the government got wind of it, they were either indicted or pressured. Look at the case of former APC chairman, Abdullahi Adamu. He was reportedly harassed when he signalled interest in joining the ADC.
“If you look at our initial meetings, Suswam was present at every one of them. Suddenly, he disappeared. The intimidation continues,” Abdullahi added.
According to him, despite the APC’s claim of broad support among governors, the ruling party remains uneasy.
Abdullahi maintained that opposition politics involves pressure but insisted the ADC would not retreat.
“They claim they have all the governors with them, yet they are still panicking. They know they have become unpopular and even those governors cannot save them.
“Everyone in opposition understands that intimidation comes with the terrain. Nigerians are looking up to us. What we are doing is bigger than individuals. We will not be intimidated.”
He cautioned that the current trend threatens Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
However, the ADC Chairman in Kebbi State, Bala Sufiyanu, said Malami’s legal challenges would not weaken the party’s determination.
He vowed that the party would defeat the APC in 2027.
APC chair dismisses allegations
Responding, the Chairman of the APC North-Central Forum, Saleh Zazzaga, rejected the ADC’s claims, insisting that investigations into Malami and El-Rufai were strictly matters of accountability.
Zazzaga described allegations of political persecution as baseless, stressing that no one is above the law regardless of political affiliation.
The APC chieftain also dismissed suggestions that the ruling party felt threatened by the ADC.
He said, “If somebody commits corruption, does it mean that because he is in the opposition the government should not handle his case? Even within the APC, if anyone commits an offence, he must face the consequences.”
He argued that claims of witch-hunt lacked merit, noting that other opposition figures such as Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar had not been summoned by anti-graft agencies.
“If the opposition is being witch-hunted, Obi and Atiku would have been invited too. This is not about opposition politics. It is about what certain individuals did while in office.
“Everybody knows how Malami handled some political cases and ignored certain court directives. We also know how El-Rufai ran Kaduna State and left behind huge debts. The current governor is struggling financially, and if not for the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, development in Kaduna would have stalled,” Zazzaga said.
He added, “This is not a political vendetta. Malami and El-Rufai must face the consequences of their actions. If they clear themselves, they are free to continue their political activities.
“We are not worried about the ADC. They are not on ground. Nobody can hide under the cover of opposition to commit crime. All the propaganda by El-Rufai is simply to distract from investigation.”