Former Kano Governor, Kwankwaso,

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that the administration of Bola Tinubu may be behind a push by a United States lawmaker to blacklist former Kano governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, over alleged religious freedom violations.

El-Rufai made the claim while speaking on Arise TV Prime Time, suggesting that the move could be linked to Kwankwaso’s refusal to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress and rumours of a possible alignment with the African Democratic Congress.

The controversy follows a bill introduced by U.S. Congressman Riley Moore proposing sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes, against individuals and groups accused of religious freedom violations in Nigeria.

The proposal reportedly names Kwankwaso alongside groups such as the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.

El-Rufai questioned the rationale for singling out Kwankwaso, noting that several northern states had implemented Sharia law without similar international scrutiny.

He described the move as unfair and politically motivated, adding that it may be tied to domestic political interests rather than genuine concern over Nigeria’s security situation.

He also urged Nigerians to approach the development cautiously, arguing that foreign political actors often frame issues in ways that align with their internal agendas.

According to him, narratives around religious persecution in Nigeria are sometimes amplified to appeal to specific political constituencies abroad.

The former governor further expressed concern about Nigeria’s internal security challenges, saying the government must focus on protecting citizens and reforming the country’s security architecture to restore public confidence and safety.

Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has alleged that the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, ordered security operatives to arrest him and claimed the NSA’s phone conversation was intercepted.

Speaking during a television interview, El-Rufai linked the alleged plot to the recent incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where he said security agents attempted to detain him shortly after his return to the country.

He claimed he overheard a tapped call in which Ribadu allegedly directed officials to arrest him, though no evidence was provided to substantiate the allegation.

There has also been no official response from the NSA as of the time of reporting.

The former governor further alleged a coordinated effort involving the Kaduna State governor and the leadership of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to abduct him, claims that have intensified political tensions.

A presidential aide, however, criticised El-Rufai’s assertions, warning that admitting to listening to an intercepted call could itself raise legal concerns.

Despite the controversy, El-Rufai said he remains willing to honour invitations from anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, insisting he has nothing to hide regarding his time in office.

He also denied involvement in the 2019 disappearance of social media commentator Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, and described recent political attacks against him as motivated by internal party disagreements within the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has announced that he will comply with an invitation from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

El-Rufai made the disclosure on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, a day after what he described as an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.

“Yesterday, after the futile attempt to abduct me, the ICPC delivered a letter inviting me to their office. My lawyer has confirmed that I will attend on Wednesday, 18 February 2026,” he wrote.

The incident at the airport involved security operatives reportedly trying to detain El-Rufai without presenting a formal invitation and temporarily seizing his international passport.

His media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, and legal counsel, Ubong Akpan, condemned the attempted arrest as unlawful and a violation of constitutional rights and procedural norms.
Akpan emphasized that El-Rufai is willing to cooperate with lawful investigations, provided due process is followed.

He added that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had previously invited El-Rufai while he was abroad, and his team had communicated their intention to comply upon his return.

“The EFCC invitation was delivered to Malam El-Rufai’s residence while he was abroad. We notified them that he would voluntarily appear at their office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026,” Akpan explained.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has confirmed that the African Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, and Labour Party will not take part in the upcoming bye-elections into the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The polls are scheduled for February 21 in two constituencies — Khana State Constituency II and Ahoada East State Constituency II.

Speaking at a media briefing in Port Harcourt, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gabriel Yomere, disclosed that five candidates will contest in Khana Constituency II, while seven candidates will vie for the seat in Ahoada East Constituency II.

Participating parties include AA, APC, APM, BP, NNPP, YPP, and ZLP.

INEC explained that the PDP failed to conduct a primary election and therefore did not produce a candidate.

The ADC was excluded after it could not upload its candidate’s details to the commission’s nomination portal before the deadline, while the Labour Party is currently entangled in legal disputes over its candidacy process.

The commission added that Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines have been configured and are ready for deployment, with training and screening of election personnel already underway.

To ensure credibility, all Supervisory Presiding Officers will be drawn from core INEC staff, given that the exercise will take place in only two local government areas.

Other ad hoc staff, including Assistant Presiding Officers, will be sourced from the National Youth Service Corps.

INEC said non-sensitive materials have been distributed to the affected LGAs, while sensitive materials will be delivered to registration centres on election morning under security escort.

The commission also revealed that potential flashpoints have been identified and security agencies briefed to guarantee safety and order during the exercise, assuring voters and stakeholders of its commitment to a free, fair, and credible poll.

The Kano State Government has denied allegations that it made moves to prevent former governor and senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from entering the state, describing the claim as false and politically motivated.

The allegation was earlier raised by Kwankwaso’s associate, Buba Galadima, who claimed that the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had written to the Federal Government of Nigeria seeking to restrict the senator’s movement into Kano.

Reacting in a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, dismissed the claim as reckless and unfounded, insisting that the state government had never attempted to stop any citizen from entering Kano.

He stressed that the administration remains committed to upholding constitutional rights, including freedom of movement and association, and is focused on governance and service delivery rather than political distractions.

The government also cautioned against spreading unverified claims capable of heightening tension in the state, urging those making such allegations to provide evidence or withdraw their statements in the interest of peace.

It reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining stability, unity and democratic freedoms, noting that no political provocation would derail its mandate to serve residents of the state.