Opposition lawmakers to Tinubu: You are prioritising 2027 elections above lives of Nigerians

…allege plot to muscle opposition out of election race

The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives on Wednesday accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of prioritising preparations for the 2027 general elections over addressing worsening insecurity, economic hardship and the welfare of Nigerians.

The caucus also alleged that there were ongoing efforts to weaken opposition parties and deny them a fair chance in the next election through judicial and institutional actions.

Addressing journalists at the National Assembly in Abuja, Fred Agbedi, the Minority Leader who spoke on behalf of the caucus, said Nigeria is ” bleeding and being deliberately pushed to the brink” by a government that had elevated “2027 electioneering above the lives and welfare of citizens.”

The opposition lawmakers expressed concern over the country’s security situation, citing the killing of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar while in captivity after he was abducted alongside his wife in Katsina State.
The caucus described the incident as a “national shame” and a reflection of the country’s deteriorating security environment.

“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,” Agbedi said.

The lawmakers noted that the death of the retired general, alongside previous killings of senior military officers, raised serious questions about the government’s strategy in tackling insecurity.

They charged President Tinubu to provide a clear and effective roadmap for addressing terrorism, banditry and kidnappings across the country.

The caucus also expressed concern over the continued captivity of schoolchildren and their teachers abducted in Oyo State, describing the situation as evidence of the government’s failure to protect citizens.

According to the lawmakers, the government has failed to fulfil its constitutional responsibility to ensure the security and welfare of citizens.

It called for an immediate rescue operation and warned against what it described as the normalisation of mass abductions.

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

The caucus alleged that the judgment was part of a broader effort to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
Agbedi said the ruling appeared designed to create political uncertainty and undermine democratic participation.

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

The caucus questioned the circumstances surrounding the case and alleged that opposition parties were facing increasing institutional obstacles, including difficulties in registering new political parties and what it described as executive interference in political processes.

While welcoming the Court of Appeal’s decision to halt the implementation of the judgment, the lawmakers called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria to address conflicting court rulings on party registration.

The Minority Caucus further accused the ruling party and the Presidency of focusing on endorsements, defections and re-election calculations while many Nigerians grapple with insecurity, rising living costs and economic hardship.

They also charged INEC to resist any attempt to use the electoral process to undermine democracy.

Among its demands, the caucus called for an overhaul of the country’s security architecture, improved welfare for security personnel, a transparent investigation into the killing of General Rabe, and the implementation of a six-month national security and economic recovery plan.

The lawmakers also charged President Tinubu to suspend all political activities related to the 2027 elections and focus on addressing the country’s pressing challenges.

“We cannot stand aloof and watch Nigerians being kidnapped and killed daily, while the system is busy manufacturing political confusion,” Agbedi said.

The caucus vowed to continue holding the government accountable through legislative means and insisted that opposition parties would not be pushed out of the political process ahead of the next general election.