Lauretta Onochie, who served as a media aide to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, has publicly demanded the immediate release of Nasir El‑Rufai, a prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) who has been held in detention for several months.
Onochie, speaking on the social‑media platform X, argued that El‑Rufai’s continued confinement under what she described as “questionable circumstances” fuels public suspicion that state institutions are being used to intimidate opposition politicians. She stressed that in a healthy democracy, dissent must be met with ideas, not prison walls, and warned that criminalising political participation threatens the very foundation of democratic governance.
According to Onochie, reports are emerging that El‑Rufai’s potential release is being conditioned on his return to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or on his complete withdrawal from political activity. She dismissed such demands as “coercion” and “political intimidation dressed up as due process,” insisting that no citizen should have to trade freedom for political surrender.
The former media aide called for a transparent and swift judicial hearing, stating that if credible charges exist they should be examined openly before a competent court. She added that prolonged detention without clear legal justification only deepens the perception that the machinery of state is being weaponised against opposition figures.
The case has drawn attention from civil‑society groups and human‑rights monitors who note a pattern of arrests targeting critics of the government. While the authorities have not publicly disclosed the specific allegations against El‑Rufai, supporters argue that the charges appear politically motivated and lack substantive evidence.
Onochie concluded that El‑Rufai’s situation reflects a broader dilemma for Nigeria’s democracy. “This is bigger than one individual. It is about whether citizens are still free to disagree, contest power, and speak without fear,” she wrote. She urged that El‑Rufai be released on bail pending a fair determination of his case, warning that a democracy that silences opposition today risks eroding the very space for dissent tomorrow.
The appeal comes as Nigeria’s political environment remains closely watched by regional observers, who see the treatment of opposition leaders as a barometer for the country’s adherence to democratic norms. Further developments will depend on judicial proceedings and any official response from the Federal Government regarding the conditions of El‑Rufai’s detention.
