Former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has issued a strong call to action for opposition forces, declaring that Nigerians and political leaders must remain vigilant and mobilized to remove what he described as a "tyrant" or "tyrannical" government in the 2027 general elections.
The statement came during a solidarity visit by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to El-Rufai on Thursday night, following an alleged attempted arrest of the former governor at Abuja's Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport earlier that day upon his arrival from Cairo, Egypt.
El-Rufai, a prominent figure associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), recounted the incident as involving operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) reportedly over 50 in number who he claimed were procured by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to detain him without any prior invitation or warrant.
He labeled the episode "unfortunate, totally unnecessary, and probably criminal," alleging it reflected partisan misuse of security and anti-graft institutions.
Addressing Atiku directly, El-Rufai emphasized the broader implications for democracy and governance: "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."
He accused the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of rendering itself "unelectable" and resorting to desperate measures to retain power "at all costs," including reducing security agencies to extensions of a political party.
The remarks highlight intensifying opposition rhetoric and coordination ahead of the 2027 presidential and national elections, with figures like El-Rufai and Atiku signaling potential alliances possibly through platforms such as the ADC to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Atiku, in a subsequent post on X (formerly Twitter), described his visit as a show of solidarity following the "failed attempt by the partisan ICPC to arrest" El-Rufai, underscoring concerns over institutional independence and political persecution.
This development has sparked nationwide discussions on the state of democratic institutions, electoral integrity, and the urgent need for accountable leadership in Nigeria.