Malami, Kebbi govt trade words over attacks at ADC rally

The Kebbi State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Abubakar Malami, has condemned alleged attacks, intimidation and destruction of property during the party’s presidential campaign flag-off in Birnin Kebbi, prompting a sharp rebuttal from the state government.

The dispute centres on events that unfolded on Thursday, November 5, 2026, during the campaign event attended by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and other national leaders of the ADC, ValidViewNetwork reports.

THE ALLEGATIONS

Malami, a former Minister of Justice, alleged that political thugs attacked members of the campaign convoy, destroyed media equipment and deployed tear gas around areas occupied by members of the visiting delegation.

“Any involvement of government institutions or security agencies in such actions is unacceptable and must be investigated,” he said.

He also called for an impartial investigation into the demolition of the Malami Pressure Group headquarters along Sani Abacha Bypass, Birnin Kebbi, describing the incident as one that raises concerns about democratic freedoms.

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“The state government’s denial of involvement and its attribution of the demolition to a private ownership dispute do not remove the need for transparency and accountability,” Malami said.

He argued that political disagreements should not translate into violence, harassment or the destruction of property.

“Political disagreement must never become an excuse for intimidation, destruction of property or suppression of lawful opposition,” he added.

THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, denied claims of intimidation and other wrongdoing by the state government.

“The state government did not intimidate them in any way. They came, they held their programme and left,” Idris said .He added: “It was even their supporters that destroyed our billboard. The government didn’t do anything to them”

THE BROADER CONTEXT

Malami also accused the state government of not giving sufficient attention to the security and economic challenges confronting residents, listing banditry, displacement, poverty, food insecurity and disruption of agricultural activities among the major problems facing the state.

He cited the National Emergency Management Agency’s humanitarian intervention in March 2026 for victims of banditry in Shanga, Yauri and Bunza as evidence of the challenges confronting affected communities.

“Rather than intimidate political opponents, the government must concentrate its resources and attention on addressing these urgent concerns,” he said .

WHY IT MATTERS

The exchange between Malami and the Kebbi State Government is a familiar pattern in Nigerian politics: allegations of violence, denials of involvement, and calls for investigations that rarely produce accountability.

For Malami, the attacks are a sign that the ruling party is afraid of the ADC’s growing support in Kebbi.

For the state government, the allegations are baseless and the real culprits are the ADC’s own supporters.

What is clear is that the campaign in Kebbi is tense. And in a state where banditry and poverty are pressing concerns, the last thing residents need is a political fight that turns violent. ValidViewNetwork reports.