Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has characterised the attempt to detain him at the Abuja airport as deeply regrettable, entirely unwarranted, and potentially unlawful.

He stated that the episode has only strengthened his determination ahead of the 2027 general elections.

El-Rufai also confirmed that he had received a formal invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning and indicated that he intends to honour the invitation on Monday at 10 a.m.

He made these remarks on Thursday evening when former Vice President Atiku Abubakar visited him in solidarity following the alleged attempt by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Addressing the matter during the visit, El-Rufai described the attempted detention as highly unfortunate, unnecessary, and possibly criminal in nature.

He explained that tensions rose when he requested that the officials present a written invitation before taking any further action. According to him, he simply asked for proper documentation, assuring them that he would report to their office once formally invited.

El-Rufai alleged that instead of adhering to established procedures, DSS operatives were mobilised at the request of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to apprehend him.

He claimed that the ICPC had enlisted the DSS to detain him and transfer him into their custody. However, he insisted that the ICPC had never previously contacted him or issued any formal invitation before the airport encounter.

In contrast, he acknowledged that the EFCC had sent him a letter inviting him for questioning while he was abroad. He said his legal team responded, informing the commission of his travel schedule and confirming that he would appear on Monday at the stipulated time.

El-Rufai further alleged that the ICPC acted independently of the EFCC and suggested that its chairman was carrying out instructions from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

He criticised security agencies, accusing them of being used for political purposes. According to him, the institutions had been transformed into tools serving partisan interests and a government determined to retain power by any means necessary.

Despite the controversy, El-Rufai maintained that the experience had only reinforced his resolve as the country approaches the 2027 elections. He declared that the incident has motivated him and his allies to intensify their efforts in the lead-up to March 2027, vowing continued political engagement.