A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has explained why the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, appointed former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as Deputy Chairman of his Presidential Campaign Council.
Momodu, who spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday, said the appointment was intended to honour what he described as El-Rufai’s sacrifices. Atiku unveiled the ADC Presidential Campaign Council on Thursday ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kashim Ibrahim-Imam was named Chairman of the campaign council, while El-Rufai was appointed Deputy Chairman. Momodu said El-Rufai’s decision to return to Nigeria despite the possibility of arrest was among the circumstances surrounding his current situation.
According to Momodu, El-Rufai’s continued detention and bail conditions amounted to a painful experience, describing his travails as political in nature. He also said El-Rufai could have remained outside Nigeria but chose to return to the country.
Momodu further credited El-Rufai with playing a role in the political circumstances that led to President Bola Tinubu’s emergence as President. He said the appointment was therefore also a gesture of recognition for El-Rufai’s past political contributions.
