El-Rufai accuses Ribadu of political witch-hunt ahead of 2027 presidential race

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, of orchestrating a campaign to tarnish his image and eliminate him as a political competitor.

Speaking in an explosive interview on Arise TV on Monday night, February 24, El-Rufai claimed that Ribadu is using government agencies to fabricate allegations against him.

He further alleged that the NSA is working to silence Northern politicians who might challenge him in the 2027 presidential race.

“Ribadu is not my friend. We used to be friends, but he is behind the project to destroy my reputation,” El-Rufai said.

The former minister and ex-governor insisted that despite efforts to implicate him, nothing incriminating had been found. According to him, the authorities have now resorted to coercing his former aides into making false statements against him.

“So far, they have been frustrated because they haven’t found anything to use against me. Now, they are approaching lower-level officers who worked with me, trying to convince them to implicate me in exchange for dropping their own cases,” he alleged.

El-Rufai also criticized the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), calling it a “charade,” while describing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as “more professional.”

He vehemently denied any financial misconduct, stating that as Kaduna governor, both he and his deputy voluntarily forfeited half of their entitlements.

“I swear to you and to God, I have not taken a penny that I was not supposed to. In fact, my deputy and I donated 50% of our entitlements, and I have records to prove it,” he said.

The former governor alleged that Ribadu’s ultimate goal is to clear the political field ahead of the 2027 presidential election by sidelining strong Northern contenders.

“Ribadu wants to be President of Nigeria, and he plans to eliminate every Northerner who appears to be competition,” El-Rufai stated.

The accusations add to the growing political tension ahead of the next general elections, as rival factions within the ruling party position themselves for power. Meanwhile, there has been no official response from the NSA or the presidency regarding these allegations.