Tuesday, May 27, 2025 -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 election
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.”
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