Hunkuyi Tells Uba Sani to Keep El-Rufai in Jail Until 2027 Election

 

Former Kaduna North Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi has urged Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani not to release his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, from detention until after the governor secures victory in the 2027 governorship election.

Hunkuyi made the remark on Saturday in Zaria while Governor Sani received former officials and political associates of El-Rufai who had reportedly defected from his camp to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Those received included Bashir Saidu, El-Rufai’s former Chief of Staff, and Jafaru Sani, who served as commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Education and Environment under the former governor.

The event was attended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, former Kaduna State Governor Ramalan Yero and other political figures.

Addressing Governor Sani during the gathering, Hunkuyi made remarks linking El-Rufai’s continued detention to the governor’s political ambitions ahead of the 2027 election.

“In which month did you capture my elder brother? Please keep him for us. Hold him firmly and do not release him. Keep him securely,” Hunkuyi said.

He added, “Do not release him. Wait until everything is completed. Until you receive your crown in your hands, then release him to us.”

His reference to the governor receiving his “crown” was interpreted as an allusion to the 2027 governorship election.

Hunkuyi also made a cryptic remark about the departure of El-Rufai’s political associates and their families from his camp, suggesting that the former governor had been left with fewer allies.

He subsequently prayed for the success of the emerging political alliance and urged those involved to work together towards their shared objectives.

El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, remains a prominent figure in the state’s political landscape. He was previously a member of the APC before defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The former governor has faced investigations and criminal charges relating to alleged financial misconduct during his tenure. He has also faced a separate case involving allegations of unlawful telephone interception. The allegations remain subject to legal proceedings.

The former governor’s continued detention has generated political controversy, with the ADC accusing the Federal Government of using anti-corruption agencies to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections. The authorities have maintained that the cases are being handled through the legal process.

Hunkuyi’s remarks have drawn attention to the political tensions surrounding El-Rufai’s detention and the realignment of political forces in Kaduna State ahead of the next election.