ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The minority caucus of Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Wednesday accused the federal government of neglecting governance, worsening insecurity, and undermining opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly, Minority Leader Fred Agbedi said Nigeria was facing a dangerous mix of insecurity, economic hardship, and what he described as attempts to weaken democratic opposition through the judiciary.
The caucus expressed outrage over the killing of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was abducted with his wife in Katsina State and later declared dead in captivity. Agbedi called the incident a “national tragedy” and evidence of the state’s inability to protect its citizens.
“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,” he said.
The lawmakers also raised alarm over the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State, demanding urgent military action to secure their release. “Their crime? Going to school in Nigeria,” Agbedi said, warning that every hour in captivity endangered the future of the children.
On the political front, the caucus criticized a recent Federal High Court ruling ordering the deregistration of five opposition parties, alleging it was an attempt to weaken opposition ahead of the 2027 elections. They welcomed the Court of Appeal’s intervention halting the lower court’s decision but accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of focusing on political calculations instead of addressing insecurity and economic hardship.
“The life of every Nigerian matters. Politics must take the back seat when the nation bleeds. We must secure Nigeria first,” Agbedi said.
The caucus called for an immediate overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, a transparent investigation into the abduction and murder of General Abubakar, urgent intervention by the Chief Justice of Nigeria to resolve conflicting judicial decisions on party registration, and suspension of all activities linked to the 2027 elections in favor of a six-month National Security and Economic Recovery Plan.
The minority lawmakers vowed to continue holding the government accountable through legislative means, insisting that opposition parties would not be intimidated or excluded from the democratic process.
Observers say the caucus’s sharp criticism reflects growing frustration over Nigeria’s worsening security crisis and economic challenges, while also highlighting tensions between ruling and opposition parties as the country heads toward the next election cycle.
International analysts note that Nigeria’s instability has wider implications for West Africa, where cross-border banditry and terrorism have already destabilized neighboring states. The killing of a retired general, they argue, underscores the vulnerability of even high-ranking figures, raising questions about the government’s ability to safeguard ordinary citizens.
Civil society groups have echoed the caucus’s concerns, urging the government to prioritize security reforms and economic recovery over political maneuvering. Human rights organizations have also warned that prolonged insecurity could erode public trust in democratic institutions and discourage voter participation in 2027.
The caucus’s demands add pressure on President Bola Tinubu, who faces mounting calls to deliver a clear strategy against insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping while stabilizing Nigeria’s struggling economy.
