- A Kaduna State High Court has ordered that former Governor Nasir El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody pending a ruling on his bail application, now fixed for the first week of June 2026.
- With INEC’s window for party primaries set to close on May 30, the judicial delay effectively prevents El-Rufai from participating in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary.
- El-Rufai faces a nine-count charge involving alleged fraud and abuse of office. His defense team has labeled the trial “purely political,” vowing to challenge the remand order.
The presidential ambitions of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai have hit a significant judicial wall.
Eko Hot Blog reports that on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, Justice Darius Khobo ordered the former governor to be remanded in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) until June, a timeline that bypasses the critical window for political party primaries.
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The ADC, which is already grappling with a leadership crisis between the David Mark and Nafiu Bala factions, had been viewed as a potential platform for El-Rufai’s 2027 bid.
However, the court’s refusal to grant immediate bail, citing concerns that the former governor might interfere with witnesses, means he will likely be behind bars when the party selects its flagbearer.
El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Ubong Akpan, criticized the decision as “unjustified,” suggesting the trial is a strategic attempt to sideline his client.
As El-Rufai remains in custody, the Supreme Court is set to hear an appeal today, Wednesday, April 22, to determine the authentic leadership of the ADC.
The outcome of this hearing will decide which faction holds the legal authority to conduct the very primaries El-Rufai is now poised to miss.
