The El-Rufai Support Group Association (ERSGA) has announced the engagement of Washington-based advocacy organisation Vanguard Africa to spearhead an international awareness campaign focused on what it describes 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 undertake outreach efforts targeting officials within the United States administration, members of Congress, federal agencies, democracy-focused institutions, and multilateral organisations regarding the case involving former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
According to the association, the decision followed concerns surrounding El-Rufai’s detention by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC) and what it described as delays in court proceedings related to his bail application.
ERSGA rejected allegations reportedly filed against the former governor, insisting that he remains innocent of any wrongdoing.
The group argued that the matter extends beyond El-Rufai’s personal case and raises broader concerns about judicial independence, due process, 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 on behalf of the association.
The organisation said the advocacy campaign would seek to encourage closer attention from international partners and democracy advocates to developments in Nigeria.
It also linked its concerns to preparations for the 2027 general elections, stressing that the impartial application of the law remains essential to sustaining public trust in the country’s democratic process.
ERSGA described Vanguard Africa as a Washington-based organisation with experience advocating for political and pro-democracy figures across the African continent, including the Gambian president, Niger’s ousted president, and a leading Ugandan opposition figure.
The group called on the United States government, international organisations, and civil society groups to closely monitor developments in Nigeria and support efforts aimed at strengthening due process, judicial independence, and democratic governance.
