Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has criticised top figures in the All Progressives Congress (APC) for concentrating on early endorsements for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign instead of addressing Nigeria’s pressing economic and security issues. Malami spoke during a political consultative meeting in Abuja, where he described the ruling party’s focus as misplaced at a time when the country is facing widespread poverty and insecurity.
At the event, which brought together opposition leaders like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Chibuike Amaechi, Malami expressed concern that the APC’s recent national summit spent more time endorsing Tinubu than confronting the country’s challenges. He pointed to rising discontent within the party, particularly among members of the defunct CPC bloc, who are unhappy with the party’s current direction.
Malami, who served as AGF under President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, said the APC had failed to address key problems, especially in northern Nigeria. He urged political stakeholders to come together and work towards a united and peaceful country. His remarks followed the Progressive Governors Forum’s endorsement of Tinubu as APC’s sole candidate for 2027 during the summit held on May 22.
A communiqué released after the meeting, signed by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, stressed the importance of the North presenting a unified position in upcoming elections. It criticised elected leaders for endorsing themselves or others for re-election without consulting their constituents and warned that such actions should face consequences.
The statement also called for a shift towards regional industrialisation and productivity as a way out of economic stagnation. It urged that future political alliances must be based on binding agreements to secure the North’s interests, regardless of a candidate’s region.
