Fresh political manoeuvring is beginning to redefine the 2027 governorship race in Kebbi State, with the African Democratic Congress, ADC, increasingly positioning former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, as a major opposition challenger to Governor Nasir Idris of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The development comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, lists Malami as the ADC governorship candidate for the 2027 election, setting the stage for a potentially fierce contest with the incumbent governor, who is also listed as the APC candidate.
The ADC has vowed to unseat Governor Idris, projecting growing confidence in its ability to challenge the ruling party’s grip on the state.
The party’s renewed optimism was further demonstrated by the inauguration of more than 600 members of its campaign council in Kebbi.
Malami inaugurated the campaign council on August 26, charging its members to work collectively to strengthen the party’s grassroots structures and take the ADC’s message to communities, wards and polling units across the state’s 21 local government areas.
The former minister said the council was established to coordinate the party’s campaign across the state and support all ADC candidates, stressing that the structure was not about one candidate or one elective position.
Findings by DAILY POST indicate that Malami has emerged as the most prominent opposition candidate directly challenging Governor Idris for the governorship, particularly amid the weakening of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state and the movement of several prominent politicians towards the APC and ADC.
However, the emerging contest is not without complications for the ADC, as the party has been facing internal disputes over the alleged replacement of some candidates who emerged from its primaries.
Three aggrieved candidates have challenged their alleged replacement and are pursuing their grievances through legal channels.
The three candidates, Abubakar Sadiq Sa’adu Fakai, Muhammad Umar and Nafiu Bello Shuwa, have also denied allegations that they were sponsored to undermine Malami or destabilise the party.
They maintained that their dispute centres on their alleged removal as candidates and not opposition to Malami’s governorship ambition.
Despite the internal crisis and ongoing legal battles, the Malami camp has continued to project the ADC as a united platform capable of mounting a serious challenge to the APC in 2027.
Malami has also urged party leaders and supporters to avoid tribalism, sectionalism and internal rivalry, while calling for reconciliation and dialogue in resolving disagreements within the party.
Political observers say the contest could become one of the most closely watched governorship battles in Kebbi, particularly because the APC’s advantage of incumbency is now being confronted by an opposition candidate with national political experience and an expanding campaign structure.
They, however, note that the ADC must overcome its internal disagreements and translate its growing political momentum into genuine grassroots support.
2027: Kebbi ADC vows to unseat Gov Idris as INEC clears Malami for guber race