The family of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has officially disowned a viral leaked letter purportedly written by him from detention to the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The disclaimer comes shortly after a document—dated May 20, 2026, and addressed to ADC National Chairman Senator David Mark and National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola—surfaced online.
The disputed letter claimed that El-Rufai expressed deep frustration over being “excluded” from key party decisions and the setup of the Kaduna governorship electoral committee while in custody.
Family Labels Letter “Fake and Unauthorised”
Clarifying the situation, representatives of the El-Rufai family dismissed the circulating handwritten document as completely fraudulent. They urged members of the public and political associates to disregard the letter, maintaining that it was manufactured by political detractors seeking to orchestrate crisis within the opposition coalition.
“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has not authorized or dispatched any such letter to the national leadership of the ADC… This is a orchestrated attempt to exploit his current detention to manufacture factional friction within the opposition ahead of 2027.” — El-Rufai Family Statement
Tension Within the Kaduna ADC
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ADC KADUNA CRISIS SNAPSHOT │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Leaked Document : Purported letter seeking dissolution of Kaduna │
│ electoral committee, alleging marginalization while in detention. │
│ │
│ • Lukman's Exit : Former APC Vice-Chairman Salihu Lukman suspended │
│ membership, citing hostile treatment from El-Rufai's loyalists. │
│ │
│ • Legal Custody : El-Rufai remains in anti-graft custody under │
│ strict visitation terms limited to immediate family and counsel. │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
(Sources: ADC Secretariat Statements & Family Briefings)
Internal Friction Deepens
Despite the family’s swift disclaimer, the emergence of the letter coincides with worsening internal turbulence within the Kaduna State chapter of the ADC:
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Salihu Lukman’s Departure: Prominent opposition figure Salihu Mohammed Lukman recently suspended his membership in the party, directly accusing El-Rufai and his political associates of marginalizing him and attempting to hijack the party’s machinery.
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Detention Constraints: Anti-graft authorities (ICPC) previously clarified that court orders restrict visitation access for El-Rufai strictly to his immediate family, legal team, and personal doctors—raising additional questions over how any unauthorized political correspondence could have originated.
Ayodele Quadri
Correspondent
