Supporters of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, have engaged a United States-based lobbying and advocacy firm to draw international attention to his ongoing prosecution by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The El-Rufai Support Group Association (ERSGA) announced on Wednesday that it had retained Vanguard Africa to coordinate advocacy efforts and engage policymakers, democratic institutions, and other stakeholders in the United States and beyond.
According to the group, the initiative is intended to spotlight concerns surrounding due process, the rule of law, and the state of democratic governance in Nigeria.
ERSGA stated that Vanguard Africa would lead outreach efforts to officials within the U.S. administration, members of Congress, government agencies, pro-democracy organisations, and multilateral institutions. The association noted that the engagement is reflected in a regulatory filing submitted in the United States.
The group linked the campaign to the ongoing legal proceedings involving El-Rufai, who is facing allegations of abuse of office, financial misconduct, and fraud relating to his tenure as governor of Kaduna State.
Maintaining his innocence, ERSGA argued that the allegations lack merit and alleged that the former governor’s prosecution has been marked by procedural irregularities.
In a statement, the association described El-Rufai as an experienced public servant and reform-minded leader, insisting that the case against him raises broader concerns about the health of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Mohammed Salihu said the former governor’s ordeal transcends personal legal challenges and has become a test of the country’s commitment to democratic principles and judicial fairness.
“The treatment of Governor El-Rufai is not an isolated incident—it reflects deeper concerns about the state of democratic institutions in Nigeria,” Salihu said, adding that the international community has a responsibility to speak out whenever due process appears to be undermined for political purposes.
ERSGA further warned that developments surrounding the case could have wider implications for Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify.
The association urged the United States government, international democracy-focused organisations, and civil society groups to closely monitor political and judicial developments in Nigeria and continue advocating for judicial independence, due process, and democratic freedoms.