2027: El-Rufai Vows Relentless Opposition to Tinubu After Alleged Airport Detention

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has declared that Nigeria’s opposition must remain steadfast in its resolve to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, following what he described as an attempted detention by security operatives at an airport.

El-Rufai made the remarks while receiving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who visited him after the incident. According to the former governor, the episode has strengthened his determination to work towards a change in government.

“Your Excellency, I assure you that what happened today has further reinforced my belief that we must work hard. We must not sleep between now and March 2027 until we remove this tyrant from office,” El-Rufai said.

He described the airport encounter as “unfortunate, totally unnecessary, and probably criminal,” alleging that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) acted at the instance of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to detain him without prior notice or formal invitation.

El-Rufai explained that while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had previously invited him for questioning, his legal representative had informed the commission that he was out of the country and would honour the invitation upon his return. He maintained that he had not received any communication from the ICPC before the airport incident.

According to him, “All I asked for was a letter of invitation and I would visit your office. The ICPC has never contacted me or sought to invite me up to the point we were at the airport.”

The former governor further alleged that the ICPC chairman acted on instructions from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, accusing the administration of deploying security and anti-corruption agencies for political ends.

“We have reduced security agencies to be arms of a political party and a government that knows it is unelectable and wants to remain in power at all cost,” he said.

The claims have not yet drawn an official response from the agencies mentioned.

El-Rufai’s comments have triggered strong reactions across political circles and online platforms. Supporters of the former governor argue that his experience reflects broader concerns about alleged misuse of state institutions, insisting that opposition figures must remain vigilant ahead of 2027.

However, critics dismiss his remarks as politically motivated, noting that El-Rufai himself served in the ruling party’s administration under former President Muhammadu Buhari and was once a key ally of Tinubu. Some observers suggest that internal political disagreements may be influencing his recent posture.

The development adds another layer of tension to Nigeria’s evolving political landscape, as early manoeuvring and alliance-building for the 2027 elections appear to be gaining momentum.

While El-Rufai has framed the episode as a defining moment in the opposition’s struggle, the coming months are expected to test the strength, unity, and strategy of political actors positioning themselves for the next electoral contest.