Ex-AGF Malami Picks ADC Governorship Form In Kebbi, Declares ‘State Of Emergency On Misgovernance’ — Kebbi Govt Fires Back

Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has formally obtained the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship nomination form for the 2027 Kebbi State governorship election, declaring what he described as a “State of Emergency on Misgovernance” in the state.

Malami, in a statement issued on Saturday through his social media handles, said he decided to join the race because he could no longer remain silent over what he described as worsening insecurity, poverty, poor healthcare, educational decline, and economic hardship in Kebbi State.

He alleged that the state is currently experiencing one of the worst humanitarian and governance crises in Nigeria, citing alarming statistics on out-of-school children, multidimensional poverty, maternal mortality, malnutrition, and insecurity.

According to the former minister, the numbers tell a damning story. Over 67 percent of children between the ages of six and 15 are out of school, while school attendance remains among the lowest nationwide. More than 88 percent of children in the state are living in multidimensional poverty, and hundreds of severely malnourished children reportedly died within nine months in 2025.

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Malami further said insecurity has worsened across several parts of the state, with recurring bandit attacks, kidnappings, displacement of farmers, and declining economic activity conditions he described as reflecting misplaced priorities and the collapse of key public sectors.

He declared a “State of Emergency on Misgovernance in Kebbi State,” promising to focus on security, education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment, and governance reforms if elected governor, vowing to work towards rebuilding Kebbi into a safer and more prosperous state and insisting that the era of poor leadership and propaganda must end.

He also appealed to the people of Kebbi State to support what he called a collective mission to rebuild the state, adding: “There will be no retreat and no surrender in the collective struggle to rescue our state.”

Kebbi Government Hits Back

The declaration did not go unanswered. The Kebbi State Government swiftly criticised Malami, with the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir Idris, Yahaya Sarki, accusing him of distorting facts about insecurity, poverty, education, and governance in the state. While acknowledging his constitutional right to contest, the government faulted what it described as “a litany of falsehoods” used to justify his ambition.

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The government also accused Malami and other former public officials of failing to address insecurity and poverty while in office, alleging that national challenges worsened under their watch. It further described his declaration of a “state of emergency on misgovernance” as contradictory, questioning how a former top government official could now present himself as a reformer.

On security, the state government alleged that banditry and terrorism expanded significantly during Malami’s time in federal office, accusing past leaders of failing to tackle the crisis effectively.

Court Cases Cloud Campaign

Malami’s entry into the race comes despite ongoing legal battles cases he has described as a witch-hunt by the current federal administration.

Political analysts believe the development could reshape the governorship contest in Kebbi, especially given Malami’s considerable influence in northern political circles and his long-standing role in national politics.