Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has declared that the opposition will intensify efforts to remove President Bola Tinubu from office in the 2027 general election.

El-Rufai spoke on Thursday night during a solidarity visit by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, following what he described as a failed attempt by security operatives to arrest him at the Abuja airport after returning from Egypt.

“Your Excellency, I assure you that what happened today has further reinforced my belief that we must work hard. We must not sleep between now and March 2027 until we remove this tyrant from office,” he said.

He described the airport incident as “unfortunate, totally unnecessary, and probably criminal,” alleging that operatives of the Department of State Services detained him on the orders of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission without prior invitation.

El-Rufai said while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had earlier invited him for questioning, his lawyers informed the agency he was out of the country and fixed a meeting for Monday at 10 a.m. He insisted he received no communication from the ICPC before the episode.

Accusing the government of targeting political opponents, he claimed security agencies had been weaponised. “We have reduced security institutions to arms of a political party and a government that knows it is unelectable but wants to remain in power at all costs,” he said.

The incident further heightens political tensions as opposition figures ramp up criticism of the Tinubu administration ahead of 2027.