Former senator Shehu Sani has alleged that four individuals were jailed during the administration of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for criticizing his government. Sani made the claim in a post on X, where he reacted to recent political tensions involving the ex-governor.

The development followed comments by El-Rufai, who described President Bola Tinubu as acting like a tyrant over an alleged attempt to arrest him. Officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) were reported to have tried to detain El-Rufai at the Abuja airport upon his return from Egypt. The former governor later accused the current administration of targeting opposition figures.

Responding to the situation, Sani insisted that El-Rufai also displayed authoritarian tendencies while in office. According to him, between 2015 and 2023, several individuals were arrested and imprisoned for criticizing the Kaduna State Government on social media platforms. He argued that such actions contradict claims of defending democracy.

Sani specifically mentioned Dr. John Danfulani, Mal Nasiru Jagaba, Steven Kefas, and Segun Onibiyo as those who allegedly spent months in Kaduna prison over their online comments. He questioned the true meaning of “tyrant,” suggesting that the label could equally apply to past actions in Kaduna State. The exchange has since sparked debate among political observers and supporters of both figures.