Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has criticised key figures in the All Progressives Congress (APC) for prioritising endorsements of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid over addressing pressing national issues.
Speaking at a consultative meeting organised by the National Political Consultative Group (North) in Abuja, Malami took aim at what he described as the ruling party’s misplaced focus amidst widespread insecurity and economic hardship.
“Just a few days ago, the ruling party held its national summit and instead of addressing the serious issues of insecurity, economic hardship and rising poverty, it chose to focus on politics, endorsing President Bola Tinubu as sole candidate for the 2027 election that is still two years away,” Malami was quoted as saying by THISDAY.
The meeting, attended by several opposition leaders including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi, was part of ongoing efforts by the opposition to forge a coalition against President Tinubu ahead of the next general elections.
Malami, who served as AGF from 2015 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, argued that the APC has failed to confront the economic and security challenges facing northern Nigeria. He called on political stakeholders to unite in a bid to “reclaim” the country and build a peaceful and prosperous nation.
His criticism comes on the heels of the APC’s national summit held in Abuja on May 22, where the Progressive Governors Forum formally endorsed President Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 election.
In recent weeks, Malami and several members of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc within the APC have expressed growing discontent over the party’s internal dynamics and strategic direction.
A communiqué issued at the end of Sunday’s meeting and signed by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, emphasised the need for the North to take a unified stance in future elections.
“Delegates resolved that the north must proceed with a united front in political choice going forward to ensure the region gets its maximum return in national political participation,” the communiqué stated.
It also highlighted the importance of enforcing accountability among elected officials, criticising what it described as the impunity of leaders who endorse themselves or others for re-election without consulting their constituents.
“Decried the impunity of elected leaders who run away with the people’s mandate by purporting to make decisions for their constituents without consultation, citing the recent developments in which elected governors and legislators are usurping the power of the people by endorsing other persons and themselves for re-election to political offices without reference to their constituents, advising that constituents should sanction such elected officials to serve as deterrent.”
The communiqué further called for regional industrialisation and productivity to overcome economic stagnation and urged that any future political alliances be founded on enforceable agreements to protect the North’s interests.
“Resolved that the region must prioritise and promote industrialisation and high productivity in all sectors in order to exit the present economic quagmire,” it added. “That, going forward, the north must premise its support for candidates at elections on enforceable agreement for the purpose of ensuring and protecting the informed interests of the region, irrespective of where the candidates come from.”
