Paul Ibe, a media aide to Africa Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has lamented that former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has spent 126 days in detention.

Ibe said El-Rufai’s detention has shown that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is harassing and intimidating the former governor for defecting from the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Posting on his Facebook page, Ibe described El-Rufai’s ongoing trial as a sham.

He wrote: “Yesterday marked day 126 of the abduction and detention of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai @elrufai, former Governor of Kaduna State and chieftain of the @ADCNig.

“By now, it should be clear to all, irrespective of political leaning that the Tinubu-led APC administration is harassing and intimidating el-Rufai for having parted ways with the APC.

“The sham trial of the ADC chieftain is politically motivated. We’ve gathered from those asking him to go and make “peace” (whatever that means) with President Bola Tinubu, because he (Tinubu) is allegedly focused on keeping him until after the 2027 elections.

“The adjournment of his case to September appears to confirm this. Meanwhile, the conditions of the bail granted to el-Rufai is too punitive and meant to keep him perpetually in detention.

“In fact, the bail conditions only encourages civil servants to loot maximally and acquire assets and properties at all cost while in service.”

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed speculations that he has defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

National Publicity Secretary of the faction, Jungudo Mohammed, made this clarification in a statement on Wednesday, describing Wike as a valuable asset.

The clarification followed recent comments by APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, who openly praised Wike’s leadership and said he was jealous that the minister is not in the ruling party.

“The commendation from the ruling party only confirms the quality of leaders the opposition has produced over the years.

“We have no intention of allowing Wike leave permanently, regardless of political pressure or offers from the APC. He is a valuable asset to the PDP,” the statement said.

DAILY POST reports that Wike is a card carrying member of the PDP but is working as a minister under the APC-led Federal Government.

The lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliott, has spoken against switching political camps, stating that such may not result in the desired change that Nigeria needs.

Elliott, who expressed reservations over politicians’ party switching style during an interview on ‘The Morayo Show’, reflected on leadership, governance and the current state of Nigerian politics.

The lawmaker said he does not believe that switching camps in search of a better alternative is the right thing to do as a politician, stressing that in his years as a representative for Surulere, he has delivered results in power supply and healthcare.

“My own kind of politician, I don’t steal money. If you look at Surulere 10 years ago, it was a horrible place to live in, but now there’s electricity, healthcare and all,” he said.

The Nollywood star-turned politician, who pointed out that public office is not a position of superiority, stressed that leadership is temporary and should be approached with humility and service, noting that many politicians often forget that power is fleeting and can disappear at any moment.

“I’m not sure. I ask myself, if I leave Asiwaju and I go to Obi, what is the difference between Asiwaju and Obi? If I leave Obi and I go to Atiku, what is the difference? ” he asked

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