A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has said former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai was appointed deputy chairman of Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council partly to recognise what he described as his political sacrifices.
Momodu, who serves as Deputy Director-General of the campaign’s Media and Communications Directorate, spoke on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday.
Atiku, on Thursday, unveiled his campaign council, with Kashim Ibrahim-Imam named as chairman and El-Rufai as deputy chairman.
Explaining El-Rufai’s inclusion, Momodu said the appointment was “a way of honouring his sacrifice”, adding that the former governor’s ongoing legal troubles were political in nature.
He also said El-Rufai’s decision to return to Nigeria despite knowing that he could be arrested showed his commitment to the country.
“He’s being held down not because he has committed any crime. He could have stayed away from the country. He chose to come back to the country. He knew he was going to be arrested, and he was arrested,” Momodu said.
El-Rufai is currently facing legal proceedings and has denied wrongdoing. Momodu also criticised the bail conditions attached to the case, describing them as excessive.
“The bail conditions given to him are so horrendous that even his enemies would wonder why he has to go through such a painful experience in the hands of a government that he helped to midwife,” he said.
Momodu further highlighted El-Rufai’s political influence, claiming that the former governor played a significant role in President Bola Tinubu’s emergence in the 2023 presidential election.
“If not for him, I’m sure President Bola Tinubu would not be in office today,” Momodu said.
He said El-Rufai’s inclusion in Atiku’s campaign structure reflected his political relevance as the ADC prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The campaign council also includes former APC National Chairman John Oyegun, Momodu, Dino Melaye and other political figures and party stakeholders.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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