Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has formally entered the 2027 Kebbi State governorship race, obtaining the nomination form of the African Democratic Congress on Saturday in what political observers are already describing as one of the most significant political developments in the state in recent years.

Malami, who formally joined the ADC earlier in the week by obtaining his membership card at Marafa Ward in Kebbi State, announced his decision to contest through his official social media platforms, declaring that he could no longer stand by while the state continued to deteriorate under what he described as poor governance and misplaced priorities.

In a statement that was equal parts political manifesto and indictment of the current administration, the former minister declared a “State of Emergency on Misgovernance” in Kebbi State, citing a series of alarming statistics to back his claims. He alleged that over 67 percent of children between the ages of six and 15 in the state are currently out of school, while more than 88 percent of children in Kebbi live in multidimensional poverty.

He further highlighted severe conditions in the state’s healthcare sector, pointing to persistently high maternal mortality rates and inadequate medical services in rural communities, as well as reports that hundreds of severely malnourished children died within a nine-month period in 2025.

On the question of security, Malami painted a grim picture of communities gripped by fear, with banditry and kidnapping forcing farmers off their lands and bringing commercial activity to a near standstill across several local government areas.

He squarely blamed the current administration of Governor Nasir Idris for what he characterised as a collapse of public services and a failure of leadership at a time when the people of Kebbi can least afford it.

Malami, who was greeted with a rousing reception by supporters during a meeting with the Kebbi ADC Aspirants Forum shortly after his declaration, promised to prioritise security, education, healthcare, agricultural revival, and youth empowerment if elected governor in 2027.

He described his ambition as rooted in service, accountability, and sustainable development, vowing that the era of ineffective leadership and empty promises in Kebbi must come to an end.

The former AGF’s entry into the race comes despite ongoing legal battles that have shadowed him in recent months, and it immediately reshapes the opposition landscape in a state where the APC has dominated for years. Political analysts believe his national profile, legal standing, and long-standing influence in northern political circles make him one of the few figures capable of mounting a credible challenge against an incumbent governor who retains strong grassroots support within the APC structure.

Opposition forces, including the PDP, had earlier been exploring a possible alliance with the ADC ahead of 2027, and Malami’s formal entry is expected to accelerate those conversations.

For his part, the former minister left no room for ambiguity about his resolve. “There will be no retreat and no surrender in the collective struggle to rescue our state,” he declared, as the 2027 governorship battle in Kebbi begins to take shape.