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The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, and a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dele Momodu, have renewed calls for the release of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who has remained in custody since February.

Obi’s media aide, Idris Zekeri, told Saturday PUNCH that the former Anambra State governor had consistently demanded that El-Rufai’s case be addressed through due process.

Zekeri said Obi had been vocal about the former governor’s continued detention, arguing that the courts should establish any allegations against him rather than allowing him to remain detained for an extended period.

He said, “Peter Obi has been one of the most vocal since the issue of El-Rufai’s ordeal started. He has made tweets on it, and we still strongly believe that if there is any case against him, it should be established instead of detaining him unlawfully for an extended period of time without actually dealing with the issue.

“In fact, Obi has had an extensive press conference on this. We strongly believe that no Nigerian should be suffering extended detention without a charge and without his rights being respected.”

El-Rufai has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission since February amid investigations and separate criminal proceedings.

The ICPC has maintained that his detention was authorised by court orders, while El-Rufai has challenged aspects of his continued detention and the proceedings against him.

On Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja reserved ruling on El-Rufai’s no-case submission in the alleged unlawful interception of the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The court fixed October 26 for the ruling.

Similarly, his N1bn fundamental rights suit against the ICPC, Inspector-General of Police and Attorney-General of the Federation was adjourned to October 27.

Meanwhile, Momodu, who is the Deputy Director-General of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Council Media and Communications Directorate, criticised the continued detention of the former governor during Friday’s edition of Channels Television’s Morning Brief.

He said El-Rufai’s contribution to the emergence of President Bola Tinubu’s administration should not be overlooked.

“We can all see what he experienced in the hands of a government he helped to midwife. Without former President Muhammad Buhari, Aisha Buhari and Nasir El-Rufai, I am not sure President Tinubu will be in office today.

“But if that is the way they have chosen to treat him because someone desperately wanted a second term and believe that with Nasir around, it might be difficult, God is the ultimate judge,” he stated.

Momodu also welcomed the ADC’s decision to appoint El-Rufai to a role in its political structure despite his continued detention.

He said, “What the ADC has done is to, at least, dignify the man with an appointment. Whether he is able to attend to it or not is immaterial. But I am very happy that the ADC found it very necessary to put him on that list.”

Reacting to allegations that El-Rufai pursued divisive politics, particularly during his tenure as Kaduna State governor, Momodu said the former governor had previously enjoyed the support of the same political establishment now critical of him.

“Barely four years ago, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was busy campaigning for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was he not in government then? Did they find him divisive at the time or is it now that he is not in circulation? They just want to give a dog a bad name to hang it.

“Although in our attitude as human beings, no soul is perfect. But El-Rufai remains one of the most formidable political figures from northern Nigeria, especially in the North-West. Every presidential candidate wants to win in the North-West because without it, there is no way you can win the election.

“The majority of the votes will come from that direction, and that is why Nasir has become a prisoner of conscience. I have no doubt in my mind that if he was still in the good book of the government, he would not go through this ordeal. But we leave everything in the hands of Allah,” he added.

The renewed calls came days after El-Rufai addressed the silence of some former associates, friends and family members over his continued detention.

In a statement titled ‘My Relationships and the Aftermath’ released on his X handle, the former governor said he bore no hatred or resentment towards those who had chosen not to stand by him.

El-Rufai said his support for people and causes over the years had been guided by his Islamic faith, Arewa upbringing, personal values and conscience rather than an expectation of reciprocity.

He said his current circumstances had prompted him to reflect on some of his relationships but stressed that the reflection should not be interpreted as condemnation.

The former governor also said he had no regrets about supporting people or causes when he believed doing so was right, adding that he would not allow the actions of others to change the principles that had guided him.

On perceived injustice, ingratitude or injury against him, El-Rufai said he would not seek revenge.

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Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has said an Atiku Abubakar victory in the 2027 presidential election would effectively end the informal principle of rotational presidency in Nigeria.

Sani stated this on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, while reiterating his position that the South should be allowed to complete an eight-year presidential tenure before power returns to the North.

The former lawmaker said the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate had the constitutional right to contest the election but argued that political considerations around power rotation should guide the 2027 contest.

“I never said Atiku should not run. Constitutionally, he has the right to run for any election. But what I said was that the southern part of Nigeria should be allowed to have its eight-year tenure in office, just like the way the North has from 2015 to 2023,” Sani said.

He said southern candidates should be allowed to compete for the presidency in 2027, arguing that power should remain in the South until 2031.

“All the parties; like the ADC now, they’re supposed to field Amaechi. That is what’s supposed to be. The NDC should field Peter Obi, and the APM should field Makinde. Let the South struggle it out and see who wins, and for four years. When the tenure is done by 2031, the North shall have its unchallengeable opportunity to produce leadership of the country,” he said.

Sani acknowledged that rotational presidency was not provided for in the Nigerian Constitution but said political actors should consider the principle in the interest of fairness, equity and national unity.

“It’s very important because we should look at our history where we come from. Some things are not written in our constitution, but in the interest of justice, fairness, equity, and peace, we need to consider all these things here,” he said.

He argued that political power should not be dominated by one section of the country because of population or electoral strength.

Sani cited former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure between 2015 and 2023, saying the South did not mount a serious challenge to his presidency during the period.

“Buhari had his eight years in office; there is no serious challenge from the southern part of Nigeria to his government. And despite all that President Tinubu has faced from 2015 to 2023, he never thought of raising any challenge to Buhari’s presidency.

“So, I think it’s going to be fair to this country and to our political system that when the South has its eight years, the North should have its eight years,” he said.

Sani stressed that his position did not prevent Atiku from contesting the 2027 election.

“About Atiku, the Constitution has not stopped him from contesting the election. He can contest the election, that is my position, and I’m not backing down on it,” he said.

Asked about the implication of an Atiku victory, Sani said it would signal the end of the informal arrangement of rotating the presidency between the North and South.

“If Atiku wins, it means that is the end of rotational presidency in Nigeria. And there is going to be hard and bitter feelings from the Southwestern part of Nigeria or the Southern part of Nigeria.

“I don’t think anyone would like to preside over a country full of hate, animosity, and conflict,” he said.

He added that the political system was already dealing with several crises and argued that a northern president succeeding President Bola Tinubu in 2027 could face opposition in the South.

“Right now, the political system is managing a lot of crises. And I don’t think a Northerner taking over power here will come in with ease and convenience to the people in the Southern part of Nigeria,” Sani said.

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The National Association of Nigerian Students, North-Central Axis, has engaged the management of the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, over complaints by students concerning delays in the repayment of NELFUND refunds and alleged deductions from beneficiaries’ payments.

The students reportedly complained that they had yet to receive their refunds despite the passage of time, while some beneficiaries allegedly had between N12,000 and N22,500 deducted from their payments.

The Zonal Coordinator of NANS Zone C, Abiola Babatunde, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying the intervention followed a petition by affected students.

Babatunde said the students had also raised concerns over the lack of transparency in the refund process, stressing that the development could not be allowed to persist.

“Students deserve full transparency and prompt payment of funds meant for them,” he said.

The NANS coordinator said the association had consequently engaged the university management to seek clarification and ensure that affected students received their money.

During the engagement, the university Registrar, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, assured the students’ body that the institution had commenced the disbursement of NELFUND refunds to beneficiaries.

The Registrar also assured the NANS delegation that the management was working to ensure that all eligible students received their refunds without further delay.

According to Babatunde, the university management also agreed to address the concerns raised over the alleged deductions from some beneficiaries’ payments.

He said NANS Zone C would continue to monitor the process until all eligible students received their refunds.

“We welcome the commitment of the FULAFIA management and will continue to monitor the repayment process until every eligible beneficiary receives their rightful refund,” Babatunde said.

He added, “Funds provided through NELFUND belong to students and must be disbursed transparently, promptly and without unjustifiable deductions or administrative bottlenecks.”

Babatunde said the association would continue to engage tertiary institutions across the North-Central region to ensure accountability in the implementation of the NELFUND scheme.

“The welfare and financial rights of Nigerian students remain non-negotiable,” he said, adding that NANS would continue to engage institutions to ensure that students received the funds meant for them.

The association urged the university management to ensure that the refund process was concluded promptly and that any deductions found to be unjustified were addressed.