Paul Ibe, media aide to African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has criticized the continued detention of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, contrasting it with the freedom enjoyed by Osun East senator Francis Fadahunsi despite his controversial remarks.
Ibe noted that El-Rufai has spent 178 days in custody after falling out politically with President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He argued that the detention underscores what he described as Tinubu’s campaign against opposition figures rather than corruption.
Posting on X, Ibe wrote:
“Former Governor of Kaduna State and chieftain of the ADC, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, has spent 178 days in detention for parting ways politically with President Bola Tinubu’s ruling APC, while Senator Francis Fadahunsi is walking freely and yet-to-be arrested after calling on members of his own party to kill members of the Accord.”
He further alleged that high-profile APC members facing corruption trials have been cleared and allowed to contest elections, reinforcing his claim that the government is targeting opponents.
The controversy stems from a viral video in which Fadahunsi urged APC supporters in Osun State to “kill all Accord Party members.” Following public backlash, the senator later clarified that he meant voters should “kill Accord supporters with their votes.”