Kebbi guber 2027: Ex-AGF, Malami’s silent moves rattle Gov Idris’s camp

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Ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial election, campaign posters featuring the image of former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami have suddenly surfaced around Kebbi State and on social media, igniting new political tensions.

ZINGTIE noted that the situation seemed to have upset incumbent Governor Nasir Idris’ team.

The posters have rekindled discussions about political zoning, the effectiveness of the current administration, and the growing calls for a power shift away from Kebbi Central, the area that has produced successive governors since the state’s creation in 1991. They also hint at Malami’s ambition to run for the governorship seat, which our reporter spotted in some parts of Kebbi State.

Currently serving his first term in office is Governor Nasir Idris, who was elected in 2023 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

As has been customary in Kebbi since the establishment of the state in 1991, it is generally assumed that he is interested in serving a second term.

Idris’s supporters think he has an advantage because no incumbent governor in the state has ever failed to win reelection.

Being a former National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers and Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, he had a strong labor background that aided in his political ascent by winning over state-wide civil officials and the general public.

But compared to his predecessors, the governor’s path to a second term is probably going to be more complicated.

Governor Idris has to deal with a resurgent opposition in addition to dissatisfaction with the increasing insecurity in some areas of the state, which includes the rise of the terrorist organization Lakurawa.

Having won all three senatorial seats in the most recent election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is still a powerful force in the state.

While the opposition holds the governorship seat, this rare one-party sweep in the National Assembly shows that the APC’s hold on the state is not absolute.

According to political commentators, if these tensions continue, Idris’s reelection prospects may face significant obstacles.

According to insiders, Malami is weighing all of his strategic alternatives, including joining the PDP if the APC ticket is unappealing, even though he has not yet made any official political statements.

According to one source, “Malami is not desperate, but he is calculating. If the APC closes the door on him, he has other options. The PDP is watching too.”

The significant influence of Senator Adamu Aliero, a former governor and political godfather, further complicates matters.

Aliero, a previous mentor to a number of up-and-coming politicians and a crucial powerbroker in Kebbi politics, has now switched allegiance to the PDP and is said to be a big contributor to the party’s recent comeback in the state.

Sources within political circles have indicated Aliero has not been on good terms with Governor Idris, and any subtle movements he makes leading up to 2027 might substantially effect the outcome of the election.

In the midst of these difficulties, Malami’s return to the political scene has caused division among the ruling APC.

Given his longstanding connections to national power brokers and the political elite, some party stakeholders have dismissed his ambition as speculative and unrealistic, citing his alleged lack of grassroots support. However, others caution that he should not be undervalued.

Shehu Bashir, an APC leader in Brinin Kebbi, stated, “Malami’s name carries weight in Abuja, not in our villages. People here want leaders who understand their daily struggles, not those who only show up when elections approach.

“Governor Idris may be having challenges, but he is still connected to the people.”

Salif Moussa, another party leader, Arewa Dandi, warned that firing Malami may be politically risky.

“He is a strategist. His charity initiatives, his national connections, and his silence after stepping down in 2023 have all been calculated. If he chooses to run, he will not be a pushover,” the source said.

Malami, a Kebbi Central native, had previously expressed interest in running for governor in 2023 but had since withdrawn for unknown reasons.

Because of his departure, Governor Idris became the party’s nominee.

The APC’s internal power struggle has been rekindled by the return of Malami’s posters, and new demands for a power rotation to either Kebbi North or Kebbi South have been sparked.

Since Kebbi Central has been the governor since 1999, many have suggested that it is time to take into account other senatorial districts.

Musa Dankande, a Yauri youth leader in Kebbi South, stated, “Our zone has never produced a governor. It’s not about tribe or religion, it’s about fairness. We have capable leaders. If APC truly wants to keep the state, they must listen to this clamour.”

Political analysts saw the appearance of Malami’s posters as an obvious indication of mobilization, despite the fact that he has not formally shown interest.

With the 2027 election less than two years away, the unfolding dynamics signal a tumultuous contest ahead, one that might test the strength of incumbency, the weight of federal connections, and the will of the grassroots electorate in Kebbi State.

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