The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu’s federal government of engaging in selective enforcement against political opposition, following an incident at Abuja’s international airport involving former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai.
According to the ADC, security operatives attempted to detain El-Rufai upon his arrival from Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday. The party stated that the operatives did not provide any reason for the attempted arrest. While an ADC member accompanying El-Rufai intervened to prevent his detention, the security personnel confiscated his international passport.
The party’s national spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, condemned the episode in a statement posted on the social media platform X. He argued the action raises “serious constitutional and democratic concerns” and fits a “broader and troubling pattern of pressure and selective enforcement directed at opposition voices” under the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
El-Rufai, a prominent figure within the APC and a former two-term governor, has been a vocal critic of certain federal policies. The ADC, though a smaller party, is part of a coalition of opposition groups consolidating ahead of future elections. This incident occurs amid heightened political tensions in Nigeria, with opposition leaders frequently alleging government misuse of state security agencies to silence dissent.
The attempted arrest, if confirmed, would represent a significant escalation in the friction between the Tinubu administration and its critics. Observers note that such confrontations risk undermining public trust in state institutions and could further polarize Nigeria’s already tense political landscape. The ADC’s allegation points to a recurring theme of legal or security actions being deployed unevenly against those outside the governing party.
The federal government has not issued a public comment on the specific airport incident. Security agencies typically do not comment on operational details of individual cases. The seizure of a passport without an stated legal basis, however, may invite scrutiny from human rights groups and legal experts regarding due process.
The development underscores the precarious state of political opposition in Nigeria. With the 2027 electoral cycle approaching, the ability of opposition figures to mobilize freely is a key indicator of democratic health. This event is likely to intensify debates about political tolerance and the impartiality of Nigeria’s security apparatus. The ADC has called for an immediate investigation into the matter and the return of El-Rufai’s passport.
