The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has accused the Federal Government of neglecting governance, worsening insecurity and allegedly attempting to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly on Wednesday, June 17, Minority Leader Fred Agbedi said Nigeria was facing a dangerous combination of insecurity, economic hardship and actions that could undermine democratic opposition. The caucus expressed outrage over the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who reportedly died while in captivity after being abducted alongside his wife in Katsina State.
Describing the incident as a national tragedy, Agbedi said, “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.” According to him, the killing highlighted the worsening security situation across the country and underscored the inability of the state to adequately protect its citizens.
The lawmakers noted that the incident came after the deaths of other military personnel in the fight against insurgency, warning that insecurity had continued to spread across several parts of Nigeria. The caucus called on President Bola Tinubu to present a clear and effective strategy to tackle banditry, terrorism and kidnapping.
The lawmakers also expressed concern over the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State, urging security agencies to intensify efforts to secure their release. Agbedi said, “As we speak, school children and their teachers abducted in Oyo State remain in captivity. Their crime? Going to school in Nigeria.”
The caucus stressed that every hour spent in captivity increased the danger faced by the victims and called for a coordinated rescue operation. On the political front, the opposition lawmakers criticised a recent Federal High Court judgment ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five opposition political parties.
They argued that the ruling could create uncertainty within the political system and be interpreted as an attempt to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections. Agbedi alleged that the judgment contradicted an existing Court of Appeal decision and ignored submissions made by INEC regarding the electoral performance of the affected parties.
He stated, “We consider Justice Lifu’s judgment as a calculated attempt to muscle legitimate opposition out of the race for the 2027 presidency.” The caucus, however, welcomed the intervention of the Court of Appeal, which halted the implementation of the lower court’s decision.
The lawmakers further accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency of focusing on political calculations for the 2027 elections rather than addressing insecurity, economic hardship, hunger and declining public confidence in governance. Agbedi added, “The life of every Nigerian matters. Politics must take the back seat when the nation bleeds. We must secure Nigeria first.”
Among its demands, the caucus called for an immediate overhaul of the nation’s security architecture, a transparent investigation into the abduction and death of General Rabe, and intervention by the Chief Justice of Nigeria to address conflicting judicial decisions relating to political party registration.
The lawmakers also urged President Tinubu to suspend activities related to the 2027 elections and instead focus on implementing a six-month National Security and Economic Recovery Plan to address the country’s pressing challenges. The Minority Caucus vowed to continue holding the government accountable through legislative means, insisting that opposition parties would not be intimidated or excluded from the democratic process ahead of the next general election.