El-Rufai Supporter Arrested Over ‘Low Turnout’ Posts At APC Rally In Kaduna

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

The Nigeria Police Force has reportedly arrested social media influencer Imran Usman Wakili over his social media posts about the poor turnout at the APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna State on October 24.

Wakili, a supporter of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, was reportedly arrested on October 29 after security operatives tracked him to his residence in an estate in Karu, Abuja.

Sources told DAILY NIGERIAN that the operatives arrived at about 4:30 p.m., using his photograph and vehicle details to locate his apartment. His arrest was linked to posts on X and Facebook in which he questioned why the APC did not release drone footage of the rally, claimed that 95 per cent of attendees were not from Kaduna and accused the party of doctoring some photographs from the event.

The sources said the posts angered some individuals and claimed Wakili had been under surveillance. They also described the operation as part of a wider crackdown on El-Rufai’s supporters.

According to one source, the police arrived with a towing van, claiming Wakili’s vehicle was stolen. However, the source said he had bought the vehicle from his brother, who had used it for about three years.

When the operatives initially failed to find Wakili at home, they reportedly arrested his younger brother and the estate manager and towed his vehicle. Both men were taken to the SARS office at Abattoir but were later released after Wakili showed up.

The sources said Wakili had remained incommunicado since the incident, while efforts by his family to establish his whereabouts and secure his release had been unsuccessful. They further claimed that a governor was behind the operation and was currently in Saudi Arabia with President Bola Tinubu, although DAILY NIGERIAN said it could not independently verify the claim.

The sources appealed to Nigerians and the international community to prevail on security agencies and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani to either release Wakili or arraign him before a court.