The Kebbi State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has backed former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), describing his ongoing prosecution as politically motivated. The party insisted the legal challenges will not derail its bid to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections. This position was contained in a statement issued after a meeting of the party’s state leadership in Sokoto at the weekend. The communique was jointly signed by the ADC State Chairman, Engr. Sufiyanu Bala, and the Chairman of the party’s Elders Forum, Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Sambawa. The party accused the APC-led Federal Government of weaponizing anti-graft agencies and sections of the judiciary to intimidate opposition figures ahead of the 2027 polls. While clarifying that it does not oppose lawful investigations or prosecutions, the ADC strongly condemned what it described as the use of “Gestapo methods” to silence dissent. “We wish to inform all and sundry that no amount of political persecution will take our minds and eyes away from the big goal, that is, to defeat the discredited APC Government at the polls come the 2027 general elections,” the statement read. According to the party, the ruling party’s strategy ahead of the elections is to make opposition politics “unattractive at best and unbearable at worst.” It argued that the government’s anti-people policies, coupled with the alleged misuse of state apparatuses, have alienated Nigerians, expressing confidence that the APC will be voted out in 2027. Addressing Malami’s case directly, the ADC claimed that the petition, investigation, arrest, detention, and subsequent prosecution of the former minister were orchestrated to achieve a predetermined political outcome. The leadership also questioned his continued detention over what they described as a bailable offence. Furthermore, the ADC alleged that Malami’s properties were searched in his absence and that his family assets were intentionally overvalued to tarnish his image. The party argued that the list of estates linked to the former minister completely ignored his successful professional career and background prior to his appointment as Attorney-General in 2015.
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