Peter Obi has described the detention and ongoing trial of Nasir El-Rufai as political persecution, insisting that the former governor should not be treated like a fugitive after voluntarily returning to Nigeria.

Obi spoke in Kaduna during a stakeholders’ meeting of African Democratic Congress, where he said the rule of law must prevail in handling allegations against any citizen.

According to him, anyone accused of wrongdoing should be accorded dignity until proven guilty by a competent court.

“It is political persecution. We have a law, and that law allows people to be treated with dignity until they are found guilty. Let the law prevail,” Obi said.

He questioned why El-Rufai, who returned voluntarily from Egypt, was being handled as though he had fled justice.

Obi said, “How do you invite somebody, he returns to the country willingly, and then he is treated like someone who was running away? Let the law run its full course.”

Both Obi and El-Rufai recently aligned with the ADC amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

El-Rufai was first confronted by security operatives on February 12 at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after arriving from Cairo, but declined to follow them without a formal invitation.

He later honoured an invitation from Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on February 16 before being transferred to the custody of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on February 19.

A magistrate court subsequently extended his remand order by 14 days, while calls intensified for either his release or formal arraignment.

The former governor has also approached the federal high court challenging the search conducted on his residence and the remand order obtained against him.

On Tuesday, El-Rufai appeared before the federal high court in Kaduna for arraignment.