Thursday, June 18, 2026 - The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has accused the Federal Government of neglecting governance, worsening insecurity and allegedly attempting to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly on
Wednesday, June 17, Minority Leader Fred Agbedi said Nigeria was facing a
dangerous combination of insecurity, economic hardship and actions that could
undermine democratic opposition. The caucus expressed outrage over the death of
retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who reportedly died while in captivity
after being abducted alongside his wife in Katsina State.
Describing the incident as a national tragedy, Agbedi said,
“That a general of the Nigerian Army, who once commanded troops and defended
this nation, could be kidnapped alongside his wife and later declared dead
under unclear circumstances is a grave indictment of a failed state.” According
to him, the killing highlighted the worsening security situation across the
country and underscored the inability of the state to adequately protect its
citizens.
The lawmakers noted that the incident came after the deaths
of other military personnel in the fight against insurgency, warning that
insecurity had continued to spread across several parts of Nigeria. The caucus
called on President Bola Tinubu to present a clear and effective strategy to
tackle banditry, terrorism and kidnapping.
The lawmakers also expressed concern over the continued
captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State, urging security
agencies to intensify efforts to secure their release. Agbedi said, “As we
speak, school children and their teachers abducted in Oyo State remain in
captivity. Their crime? Going to school in Nigeria.”
The caucus stressed that every hour spent in captivity
increased the danger faced by the victims and called for a coordinated rescue
operation. On the political front, the opposition lawmakers criticised a recent
Federal High Court judgment ordering the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) to deregister five opposition political parties.
They argued that the ruling could create uncertainty within
the political system and be interpreted as an attempt to weaken opposition
parties ahead of the 2027 elections. Agbedi alleged that the judgment
contradicted an existing Court of Appeal decision and ignored submissions made
by INEC regarding the electoral performance of the affected parties.
He stated, “We consider Justice Lifu’s judgment as a
calculated attempt to muscle legitimate opposition out of the race for the 2027
presidency.” The caucus, however, welcomed the intervention of the Court of
Appeal, which halted the implementation of the lower court's decision.
The lawmakers further accused the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC) and the Presidency of focusing on political calculations for the
2027 elections rather than addressing insecurity, economic hardship, hunger and
declining public confidence in governance. Agbedi added, “The life of every
Nigerian matters. Politics must take the back seat when the nation bleeds. We
must secure Nigeria first.”
Among its demands, the caucus called for an immediate
overhaul of the nation's security architecture, a transparent investigation
into the abduction and death of General Rabe, and intervention by the Chief
Justice of Nigeria to address conflicting judicial decisions relating to
political party registration.
The lawmakers also urged President Tinubu to suspend
activities related to the 2027 elections and instead focus on implementing a
six-month National Security and Economic Recovery Plan to address the country's
pressing challenges. The Minority Caucus vowed to continue holding the
government accountable through legislative means, insisting that opposition
parties would not be intimidated or excluded from the democratic process ahead
of the next general election.
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