By Ayomide Otitoju
The El-Rufai Support Group Association (ERSGA) has announced the engagement of Washington-based advocacy organisation, Vanguard Africa, to spearhead an international campaign highlighting what it described as concerns over due process and the rule of law in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, ERSGA’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, Mohammed Salisu, said Vanguard Africa would engage officials of the United States government, members of Congress, federal agencies, democracy-focused institutions, and multilateral organisations over issues surrounding the case of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
The group said the move followed concerns over El-Rufai’s detention by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and alleged delays in court proceedings relating to his bail application.
ERSGA dismissed the allegations against the former governor, insisting he is innocent of any wrongdoing, and argued that the case raises wider questions about judicial independence and the treatment of political figures in Nigeria’s democracy.
“The treatment of Governor El-Rufai is not an isolated incident — it is a symptom of a deeper crisis threatening Nigeria’s democratic institutions,” Salihu said.
The association said it plans to encourage greater international scrutiny of developments in Nigeria, linking its concerns to the country’s preparations for the 2027 general elections and stressing the need for impartial application of the law to sustain public confidence in the democratic process.
ERSGA described Vanguard Africa as a pro-democracy advocacy group with experience engaging on political issues across Africa, including support campaigns involving political figures and opposition leaders in several countries.
The group urged the United States government, international institutions, and civil society organisations to monitor developments in Nigeria and support due process, judicial independence, and democratic governance.
