The El-Rufai Support Group Association (ERSGA) has hired a Washington-based advocacy group, Vanguard Africa, to raise international concerns about due process and the rule of law in Nigeria over the case involving former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, ERSGA said Vanguard Africa will engage officials in the United States administration, members of Congress, federal agencies, democracy-focused institutions, and multilateral organisations.
ERSGA’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, Mohammed Salisu, said the outreach campaign will focus on developments surrounding El-Rufai’s case and broader concerns about Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
According to the group, the move follows concerns over El-Rufai’s detention by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC) and delays in court proceedings linked to his bail application.
The group rejected allegations reportedly filed against the former governor and insisted that he committed no wrongdoing.
It argued that the case raises wider questions about judicial independence and the treatment of political figures within Nigeria’s democratic system.
“The treatment of Governor El-Rufai is not an isolated incident, it is a symptom of a deeper crisis threatening Nigeria’s democratic institutions,” Salisu said, adding that group campaign goes beyond El-Rufai’s case.
The organisation said it wants international partners and democracy advocates to pay closer attention to developments in Nigeria.
The group linked its concerns to preparations for the 2027 general elections, arguing that fair and impartial application of the law remains critical to public trust in the democratic process.
ERSGA described Vanguard Africa as a Washington-based organisation with experience supporting political and pro-democracy figures across Africa, including the Gambian president, Niger’s ousted president, and a Ugandan opposition leader.
Also, the group urged the United States government, international institutions, and civil society organisations to closely monitor developments in Nigeria and support due process, judicial independence, and democratic governance.
