Mohammed Bello Doka has called on Nigerians to use the 2027 general elections to express their dissatisfaction with the treatment of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who he said had been in detention for months.
In a statement published on El-Rufai’s X account on Thursday, Doka described the former governor as a “caged lion” and urged his supporters and Nigerians to remain peaceful, resist intimidation and mobilise voters ahead of the elections.
He alleged that El-Rufai’s continued detention had assumed a political dimension, claiming that some political figures were concerned about the former governor’s influence ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to the statement, El-Rufai voluntarily appeared before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and later the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on February 18, 2026.
Doka claimed that the former governor’s continued detention had heightened public frustration, alleging that some politicians wanted him to remain in custody until after the 2027 elections.
He also referred to an alleged comment by a former senator at a political gathering in Zaria, claiming that the politician had urged the incumbent governor to ensure El-Rufai remained detained until after the polls. However, the statement did not provide further details to independently verify the allegation.
Doka attributed some of El-Rufai’s political challenges to his opposition to the naira redesign policy under the previous administration, arguing that the former governor had openly criticised the policy because of its impact on ordinary Nigerians.
He further alleged that El-Rufai’s failure to secure a ministerial appointment after being nominated reflected a wider political disagreement, claiming that some political actors were uncomfortable with his influence.
The statement also revisited the debate over power rotation between northern and southern Nigeria, arguing that El-Rufai had supported the transfer of power to the South following former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure.
Doka accused some political figures of inconsistency on zoning, arguing that political principles should not be applied selectively to serve personal ambitions.
He urged Nigerians to remain engaged in the electoral process despite the controversy surrounding El-Rufai, maintaining that voters could hold political leaders accountable through their ballots.
“Collect the rice. Collect the noodles. Collect the bread. You will need the energy on election day,” he said, urging voters not to allow material inducements to determine their choices.
Doka also warned against violence, alleging that political unrest could be used to undermine the electoral process.
He called on El-Rufai’s supporters to mobilise their neighbours, educate community members about voting procedures and protecting their votes, and encourage large voter turnout on election day.
The statement further criticised the performance of some government officials, alleging that they had failed to address insecurity, poverty and poor infrastructure in their constituencies. However, it did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegations against the unnamed officials.
Doka concluded by urging Nigerians to reject intimidation and division and use their votes to express their views on El-Rufai’s treatment.
“The lion is caged, but the lion is not dead. The people are not dead. The votes are not dead,” he said.
