Momodu defends El-Rufai’s appointment to ADC campaign council

African Democratic Congress chieftain Dele Momodu has defended the appointment of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as deputy chairman of the party’s presidential campaign council. El-Rufai is in detention, and his inclusion has prompted questions about how he would perform a role in the opposition party’s campaign structure. Speaking on Channels Television’s Breakfast programme, Morning Brief, Momodu said the appointment recognised what he described as the former governor’s political sacrifice.

Momodu said El-Rufai’s difficulties were political in nature and described him as a “prisoner of conscience”. He also said El-Rufai had returned to Nigeria despite knowing he could be arrested, arguing that his current position should be considered alongside his earlier political contributions. The ADC chieftain said El-Rufai remained one of the most influential political figures in Northern Nigeria, particularly the Northwest.

He referred to El-Rufai’s previous support for Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential campaign and argued that his appointment remained significant even if detention prevented him from attending to the role directly. Momodu said the party wanted to honour El-Rufai with the appointment. The supplied report does not include a response from El-Rufai, the government or other ADC members to the claims about his detention.