Abubakar Malami, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has obtained the governorship nomination form of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 Kebbi State election. He announced his intention to run on Saturday via a statement shared on his social media platforms. Malami attributed his decision to growing insecurity, poverty, poor healthcare, declining education standards, and economic hardship in the state. He described Kebbi as facing one of Nigeria's worst humanitarian and governance crises.
Malami cited figures indicating that over 67 percent of children aged six to 15 in Kebbi are out of school. He also claimed more than 88 percent of children in the state live in multidimensional poverty. On healthcare, he stated maternal mortality remains high, with many rural communities lacking access to antenatal care and essential medical services. He pointed to persistent attacks by bandits and kidnappers across several communities, leading farmers to abandon farmlands and businesses to operate under fear.
The former minister accused the current Kebbi State administration of misplaced priorities amid widespread hardship. He declared a "State of Emergency on Misgovernance" in the state. If elected governor in 2027, Malami pledged to prioritise security, quality education, improved healthcare, agricultural revival, and youth empowerment. He said his motivation for running stems from service, accountability, and sustainable development. He called for an end to ineffective leadership and empty propaganda. "There will be no retreat and no surrender in the collective struggle to rescue our state," Malami declared.
Malami criticises Kebbi's leadership over out-of-school children and poverty while having served in a federal cabinet for eight years without addressing these national issues. His call for a "State of Emergency on Misgovernance" raises questions about his own role in federal policies that impacted Kebbi during his tenure. If he believes governance failures are dire now, his silence while in power suggests complicity. His campaign hinges on accountability, yet offers no explanation for his past inaction.
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