Asiya El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has reflected on a moment from the 2023 presidential campaign, contrasting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s public appeal for her husband’s support with what she described as his current situation while in detention.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Thursday, July 9, 2026, Asiya recalled that Tinubu had openly expressed his determination to secure Nasir El-Rufai’s support during the election campaign. She said she now finds it difficult to reconcile those public expressions with the circumstances surrounding her husband’s ongoing legal challenges.
According to her, “The president, on national television, said he was not getting down from the podium until Malam agreed to work with him. But here we are today.”
Her comments came as she discussed the former governor’s detention and the impact the situation has had on their family. Asiya said the contrast between the close political relationship that existed during the campaign period and the present circumstances has been particularly difficult for them.
She further explained that Nasir El-Rufai had initially been reluctant to remain actively involved in frontline politics after leaving office as governor. However, she said personal appeals from Tinubu during the 2023 campaign persuaded him to continue participating in national political activities.
According to Asiya, although she had reservations about the demands public service places on their family, her husband ultimately chose to support Tinubu’s presidential campaign across Kaduna State because he believed in the vision being presented at the time.
Beyond recounting the campaign events, Asiya also raised concerns about the conditions surrounding her husband’s detention. She alleged that the family has faced challenges in ensuring that he receives adequate access to his long-standing medical team and expressed concern over the reported arrest of his personal physician following a hospital visit.
She maintained that the family is not asking the President to interfere with ongoing judicial proceedings or terminate any pending court cases. Rather, she said their appeal is for the Federal Government to ensure that relevant institutions act within the law, respect due process, and safeguard the constitutional rights of individuals involved in legal proceedings.
Asiya argued that adherence to the rule of law remains essential regardless of political affiliation, adding that the proper implementation of bail conditions and respect for fundamental human rights should remain a priority for state institutions……See More
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