Former media aide to late President Muhammadu Buhari, Lauretta Onochie, has called for the immediate release of former Kaduna State Governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Nasir El-Rufai, amid growing controversy surrounding his detention.
In a statement shared via her X account, Onochie said El-Rufai’s continued detention under what she described as “questionable circumstances” was fueling public concerns that state institutions were being deployed against opposition figures.
She argued that dissenting political voices should be countered through democratic engagement and debate rather than through detention or intimidation.
Onochie also expressed concern over reports alleging that El-Rufai’s release may be tied to political conditions, including demands that he either return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or withdraw from active political participation.
According to her, such alleged conditions amount to political coercion disguised as legal procedure, stressing that no citizen should be forced to sacrifice political freedom in exchange for personal liberty.
“The rights to political association, opposition, and participation are fundamental pillars of constitutional democracy,” she stated, adding that Nigeria risks undermining its democratic credentials if opposition voices are punished for refusing to conform.
She further called on authorities to ensure that any legitimate allegations against El-Rufai are addressed transparently and expeditiously before a competent court of law.
Onochie maintained that prolonged detention without clear legal justification only deepens public concerns about the politicization of state institutions.
Describing the matter as one that extends beyond El-Rufai personally, she said the situation touches on broader issues concerning democratic freedoms, political pluralism, and citizens’ right to express dissent without fear.
She warned that suppressing opposition figures could weaken the foundations of democracy, noting that a political system without opposition risks sliding toward authoritarianism.
