El-Rufai tells supporters to vote ADC in 2027, party official says
- A party official says Nasir El-Rufai has asked his supporters to vote for the African Democratic Congress at all levels in 2027.
- Hafsat Baba, ADC North-West vice chairman, said the directive covers Kaduna's 23 local government areas.
- She also alleged more than 30 El-Rufai supporters were arrested about two weeks ago and urged security agencies to stay impartial.
Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has asked his supporters to vote for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at every level in the 2027 general elections, according to a senior official of the party.
Hafsat Baba, the ADC's North-West vice chairman, announced the directive during a meeting of support groups loyal to El-Rufai in Kaduna State. She said it covers the presidential, governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections across all 23 local government areas of Kaduna.
The meeting was called to bring the different support groups together and coordinate their activities ahead of the elections, Baba said. The coalition also plans to build a database of El-Rufai's supporters in the state and keep engaging them regularly to strengthen its mobilisation.
El-Rufai, through Baba, urged his supporters to stay united, peaceful and law-abiding as they campaign for ADC candidates. Baba said the groups are committed to sustaining what she described as his legacy, particularly in education, healthcare and empowerment.
Insecurity and arrests raise concern
Baba also raised concern about insecurity in parts of Kaduna State, naming Birnin Gwari, Giwa and Millennium City. She called on security agencies to do more to protect the lives and property of residents.
She alleged that more than 30 supporters of the former governor were arrested about two weeks before the meeting, and questioned what she called repeated arrests of his loyalists. She urged the security agencies to remain impartial and act in line with the Constitution.
The arrests claim has not been confirmed by the police or other security agencies, and no official response was reported in the accounts of the meeting.
El-Rufai is a prominent figure in northern politics, and a directive from him to back another party could shift votes in a state where support groups tied to him are well organised.
What happens next
The coalition says it will build a database of supporters and hold regular engagements across the state as the 2027 campaigns build up. How the ADC and other parties react, and whether security agencies respond to the arrest allegation, will shape the next stage.
