Tinubu consumed by 2027 politics while Nigerians suffer insecurity, poor governance — Reps’ minority caucus

The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has accused the Federal Government of prioritising political calculations for the 2027 general elections over addressing Nigeria’s growing security and economic challenges.

Addressing journalists at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Minority Leader, Fred Agbedi, said the country was facing worsening insecurity, economic hardship and what he described as attempts to undermine opposition parties through the judiciary.

The caucus expressed outrage over the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was reportedly abducted alongside his wife in Katsina State and later died in captivity.

Agbedi described the incident as a tragic reflection of the country’s deteriorating security situation.

“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,” he said.

The lawmakers noted that the killing came amid the loss of several senior military officers in ongoing security operations and warned that banditry, terrorism and kidnapping continue to spread across the country.

The caucus also raised concerns over the continued captivity of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, calling for urgent and coordinated military action to secure their release.

“As we speak, schoolchildren and their teachers abducted in Oyo State remain in captivity. Their crime? Going to school in Nigeria,” Agbedi stated.

On the political front, the Minority Caucus criticised a recent Federal High Court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five opposition political parties.

The lawmakers argued that the ruling could create uncertainty within the political system and be viewed as an attempt to weaken opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to Agbedi, the judgment contradicted an earlier Court of Appeal decision and disregarded submissions made by Independent National Electoral Commission regarding the electoral performance of the affected parties.

“We consider Justice Lifu’s judgment as a calculated attempt to muscle legitimate opposition out of the race for the 2027 presidency,” he said.

The caucus, however, welcomed the subsequent intervention of the Court of Appeal, which ordered a stay of execution on the judgment pending determination of the substantive appeal.

The lawmakers further accused the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Presidency of focusing excessively on the next election cycle while Nigerians grapple with insecurity, hunger and economic hardship.

“The life of every Nigerian matters. Politics must take the back seat when the nation bleeds. We must secure Nigeria first,” Agbedi added.

Among its demands, the caucus called for:

An immediate overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture.

A transparent investigation into the abduction and death of General Rabe Abubakar.

Intervention by the Chief Justice of Nigeria over conflicting court decisions concerning political parties.

An urgent rescue operation to secure the release of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State.

A six-month National Security and Economic Recovery Plan focused on addressing insecurity and economic challenges.

The Minority Caucus vowed to continue using legislative mechanisms to hold the government accountable and insisted that opposition voices must not be silenced or excluded from Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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