Malami Set to Face Idris in Kebbi Governorship Race

Abubakar Malami, the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, is now the governorship candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kebbi State. This sets the stage for a showdown with the current governor, Nasir Idris.

Recently, Governor Idris was confirmed as the consensus candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Political analysts say the competition between these two politicians will be tough due to their past rivalry over the Kebbi Government House.

Malami is believed to have played a key role in Idris becoming governor in 2023. But during public events, Idris has repeatedly stated, "Nobody in this state except Almighty Allah made me Governor of Kebbi State. Let anybody who helped me come and say it. Even when they ganged up against me to steal my mandate by declaring the election inconclusive, I still won; it was God who made me Governor, nobody else."

Ahead of the 2023 governorship election, Malami merged his political platform, KHADIMIYA, with the APC. He initially created it to run for governor but later chose to support the APC campaign, likely due to some undisclosed reasons that made him drop his ambition. Because of this, many viewed Malami as a significant supporter of Idris's successful campaign.

But the friendly relationship between Malami and Idris soured within six months after Idris became governor. Malami, who used to visit the Government House and attend official events, suddenly distanced himself from Idris's administration.

Alhaji Kabiru Usman, an APC leader in Gwadangwaji area of Birnin Kebbi, stated that Idris considered Malami a trusted ally during and after the campaign that put him in power.

"I think Malami is hasty in starting a fight with the Governor, irrespective of what might have happened. He should have been patient with Governor Idris’s administration because it was barely a year when Malami parted ways with him over his ambition to govern Kebbi."

Usman added, "This is the same man who supported the governor to win the election when other big names in the party and the government of Bagudu refused to support Governor Idris during the campaign and election of 2023. Many believe that Malami's impatience to wait for Governor Idris to complete two terms before showing interest in power is what caused the clash between them."

"Today, thousands of his followers and supporters have come to declare their support and loyalty to Governor Nasir Idris. Many of them are now holding key positions in the administration of Governor Idris. This is a plus for APC and a win for our Governor," he noted.

Many believe that Malami, as the ADC candidate in Kebbi State, will provide a strong challenge to the incumbent Governor and the APC. Besides being a former Minister of Justice, he has a solid supporter base in the state, and the defection of former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), General Aminu Bande (rtd), to the ADC to work with Malami adds to this.

Shehu Sani, an ADC member and supporter of Malami, said the ADC is ready in Kebbi, and they are serious about the governorship election in 2027.

"We know the feelings of the people. We understand they want change in the administration of the state’s affairs and believe the ADC under Malami would meet their needs if elected. The ADC is well positioned to win the governorship election in Kebbi State and deliver the people from the misrule of the APC administration," he said.

Malami mentioned during the ADC primaries in Birnin Kebbi that he is on a rescue mission for Kebbi State. He said he and others joined the ADC to direct the state affairs to address the issues of insecurity, poverty, and educational decline.

Yahaya Sarki, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Idris, dismissed the ADC and Malami’s entry into the Kebbi governorship race as a waste of time. He stated that Governor Idris remains the candidate to beat because the people of the state are fully behind him.

Sarki added that Idris became the Governor of Kebbi State due to a strong demand for genuine change and to fix a situation that had badly deteriorated in all sectors.

He said, "The insecurity, poverty, educational collapse, and economic hardship that Malami cited as reasons for joining the governorship race are mainly due to mismanagement by people like him, who cared more about personal gain than contributing to improvement."

A few weeks ago, two prominent APC leaders, Senator Musa Maidoki and Senator Bala Na’Allah, switched to the ADC due to their grievances with the APC leadership regarding recent primaries.

Some see this as a boost for the ADC and Malami’s chances in the governorship election. But Aliyu Haruna, an APC leader, disagreed. He said the two leaders do not have much influence in the Zuru Emirate, which is loyal to Governor Idris and the APC.

Political analysts believe the Kebbi governorship election in 2027 will focus on Governor Idris and Malami. They also think it will be a fierce battle if the ADC plays its cards right. But the big question remains: can Malami and his new party, the ADC, win in an APC-controlled state like Kebbi? We will find out in the 2027 general elections.