El-Rufai: Group Engages US Lobbying Firm To Raise Concerns Over Rule Of Law In Nigeria

The El-Rufai Support Group Association (ERSGA) has engaged Vanguard Africa, a Washington, D.C.-based international advocacy firm, to champion what it describes as growing concerns over the rule of law and due process in Nigeria before key institutions in the United States and the international community.

The group disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists yesterday in Abuja by its Director of Strategic Partnerships, Mohammed Salihu.

According to ERSGA, the engagement is aimed at drawing the attention of the White House, the United States Congress, federal agencies, pro-democracy institutions and multilateral organizations to what it termed the erosion of democratic norms and due process in Nigeria.

The association said Vanguard Africa was formally retained to lead a coordinated advocacy campaign focused on developments surrounding former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and broader concerns about the country’s democratic institutions.

Citing a regulatory filing published by the United States Department of State, ERSGA said Vanguard Africa would “plan and execute outreach to U.S. Administration officials, Congress, relevant bureaus and agencies, pro-democracy institutions, and multilateral stakeholders” on behalf of the organization.

ERSGA described El-Rufai as a seasoned public servant and reformer with decades of experience in government.

The former governor served as Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises between 1999 and 2003, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007, and Governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023.

The group alleged that El-Rufai has been subjected to unfair treatment in ongoing legal proceedings and maintained that accusations against him are without merit.

According to the association, concerns over the handling of his case underscore broader questions about adherence to due process and the independence of democratic institutions in Nigeria.

“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.

“We are bringing these concerns to Washington because the international community has both the standing and the responsibility to speak plainly when due process is weaponized for political ends,” he added.

ERSGA said it believes the El-Rufai case has become a critical test of whether Nigeria’s institutions can operate impartially and independently, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group warned that the use of legal mechanisms to weaken or exclude opposition figures could undermine public confidence in democratic governance and electoral integrity.

“With national elections approaching in 2027, the use of legal mechanisms to marginalize opposition figures strikes at the foundation of free and credible democratic competition,” the association stated.

ERSGA also highlighted Vanguard Africa’s record of advocacy across the African continent, noting that the organization has supported democratic leaders and political figures, including Gambian President Adama Barrow, Niger’s former President Mohamed Bazoum and Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine.

The association called on the United States Government, international democratic institutions and civil society organisations to closely monitor political and judicial developments in Nigeria and to continue advocating for democratic values.

“We call on the United States Government, international democratic institutions and civil society organisations worldwide to speak clearly in defence of due process, judicial independence and the democratic space that free and fair elections require,” the statement said.

ERSGA maintained that strengthening the rule of law and preserving democratic institutions remain essential to ensuring credible elections and political stability in Nigeria.

The group said its engagement with Vanguard Africa forms part of a broader effort to ensure that concerns about governance, accountability and the protection of democratic rights remain on the agenda of influential international stakeholders.