Obi Criticises Govt Over El-Rufai, Malami Detention

Obi Criticises Govt Over El-Rufai, Malami Detention

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu over the continued detention of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai and ex-Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami.

Obi, who is a leading figure in the African Democratic Congress, raised concerns about the situation in a statement shared on X on Monday.

He said the rule of law must remain protected in Nigeria and warned that using criminal cases against political opponents could damage the country’s democratic system and weaken economic progress.

According to him, actions that appear to target rivals risk creating tension as the nation moves closer to another election season.

Obi pointed to the timing of the arrests, noting that both El-Rufai and Malami had recently declared their intention to work toward removing the current administration in the 2027 elections.

He also criticised the strict bail conditions and delays surrounding their release, arguing that such steps could deepen fears of political persecution.

The former Anambra State governor also expressed concern about El-Rufai’s movement between different security agencies, including the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS.

While stating that he supports the fight against corruption, Obi insisted that anti-corruption efforts must be fair, transparent, and applied to both those in power and those outside government as Nigeria approaches another critical political period.