Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has accused the Federal Government of neglecting governance, worsening insecurity and taking actions capable of weakening opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The caucus made the allegations on Wednesday during a press conference at the National Assembly in Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of the caucus, the Minority Leader of the House, Mr Fred Agbedi, expressed concern over what he described as a dangerous combination of insecurity, economic hardship and political developments that could undermine democratic opposition in the country.
Agbedi said the caucus was particularly disturbed by the reported death of retired Maj.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, who was allegedly abducted alongside his wife in Katsina State and later died in captivity.
He described the incident as a national tragedy and a reflection of the country’s worsening security challenges.
“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.
According to him, the incident highlights the inability of the state to adequately protect citizens and underscores the need for urgent reforms in the nation’s security architecture.
The caucus also lamented the continued abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to secure their release.
“As we speak, school children and their teachers abducted in Oyo State remain in captivity. Their crime? Going to school in Nigeria,” Agbedi said.
He stressed that every additional hour in captivity increased the danger faced by the victims and called for a coordinated rescue operation.
On the political front, the lawmakers criticised a recent Federal High Court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties.
The caucus 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 failed to adequately consider submissions made by INEC regarding the electoral performance of the affected parties.
“We consider Justice Lifu’s judgment as a calculated attempt to muscle legitimate opposition out of the race for the 2027 presidency,” he said.
The lawmakers, however, welcomed the intervention of the Court of Appeal, which halted the implementation of the lower court’s judgment pending further legal proceedings.
The caucus further accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency of focusing on political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections instead of addressing pressing national issues.
According to Agbedi, insecurity, economic hardship, hunger and declining public confidence in governance should receive greater attention from government.
“The life of every Nigerian matters. Politics must take the back seat when the nation bleeds. We must secure Nigeria first,” he said.
Among its demands, the caucus called for an immediate overhaul of the nation’s security architecture and a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the abduction and death of the retired general.
The lawmakers also urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria to address what they described as conflicting judicial decisions relating to the registration and deregistration of political parties.
They further called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend activities relating to the 2027 elections and focus on implementing a six-month National Security and Economic Recovery Plan to address the country’s immediate challenges.
The caucus pledged to continue holding the government accountable through legislative means and insisted that opposition parties would not be intimidated or excluded from the democratic process.
It reaffirmed its commitment to protecting democratic institutions and advocating policies aimed at improving the welfare and security of Nigerians.
