Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has explained the decision by the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to appoint former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as Deputy Chairman of the 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.
Momodu spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday, a day after Atiku unveiled the campaign council for the 2027 presidential election. The council is chaired by Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, with El-Rufai serving as deputy chairman.
According to Momodu, El-Rufai’s appointment was intended to recognise what he described as the former governor’s sacrifices amid his ongoing legal challenges.
“It is a way of honouring his sacrifice because his travails, I can say, are quite political in nature.
“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.
“The bail conditions given to him are so horrendous that even his enemies would wonder why he has to go through such painful experience in the hands of a government that he helped to midwife.
“If not for him, I’m sure President Bola Tinubu will not be in the office today.”
Momodu’s comments came as El-Rufai remains in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) amid ongoing legal proceedings. Reports on the case say the former governor is facing allegations relating to money laundering and conversion of public property, which remain matters before the relevant authorities.
The ADC campaign council includes several other prominent political figures, with former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye heading contact and mobilisation, while Momodu is responsible for media and communications.
Momodu also described El-Rufai as a significant political figure in Northern Nigeria, particularly the Northwest, while acknowledging the controversies surrounding his tenure as Kaduna governor.
