Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar visited his political ally, Nasir El-Rufai, on Thursday night to show solidarity after security agents tried to arrest the former Kaduna State governor at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport earlier that day.
Atiku shared footage of the visit on Friday morning, February 13, 2026, condemning the incident as “a failed partisan attempt” by the ICPC and DSS to humiliate the former governor upon his return from Cairo.
He stated: “Last night, I paid a solidarity visit to the former Governor of Kaduna State and stalwart of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, following the failed attempt by the partisan ICPC to arrest him at the airport upon his arrival in the country.”
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During the visit, Atiku argued that the confrontation was a breach of democratic principles and the rule of law.
He remarked: “This is a democratic society, a society based on rule of law. There was absolutely no need for you to be tried to be kidnapped, I would say, from the airport. I mean, they could allow you to get to your house and then invite you.”
He further characterized the situation as “an embarrassment to the entire political class” and vowed to protect the interests of law-abiding citizens, saying, “We condemn it in totality and we’ll stand by you and protect your interests and the interests of every law-abiding Nigerian.”
Atiku also alleged that the same forces that undermined the PDP are now targeting the ADC through judicial manipulation.
He warned: “We must be alert and stand up against those plans to undermine the opposition. This is very credible information, so we must all be at alert and make sure that the judiciary is not used to undermine the ADC, just as it has been used to destroy the PDP.”
In response, El-Rufai thanked Atiku for his “gesture of friendship and solidarity,” describing the airport encounter as “most unfortunate, totally unnecessary and probably criminal as well.”
He claimed the ICPC had “procured” the DSS to “abduct” him despite having no prior summons from the commission.
While he acknowledged an invitation from the EFCC—which his lawyers promised he would honor on Monday, February 16—he insisted he had never heard from the ICPC. El-Rufai maintained that he would always respect formal invitations, emphasizing that government agencies must follow due process.
See video below:
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