The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend activities related to the 2027 general elections and focus attention on addressing Nigeria’s worsening security and economic challenges.
Speaking during a press briefing at the National Assembly on Wednesday, the leader of the caucus, Fred Agbedi, accused the Federal Government of concentrating on political manoeuvring ahead of the next election cycle while Nigerians continue to grapple with insecurity and economic hardship.
According to Agbedi, the administration should immediately shift its focus from electoral calculations and implement a six-month National Security and Economic Recovery Plan aimed at restoring stability across the country.
“The life of every Nigerian matters. Politics must take the back seat when the nation bleeds. We must secure Nigeria first,” Agbedi declared.
The lawmakers expressed concern over what they described as a deteriorating security situation nationwide, citing the reported abduction and death of former military spokesman, retired General Rabe Abubakar, as evidence of the state’s inability to adequately protect citizens.
Describing the incident as a national tragedy, Agbedi said the circumstances surrounding the former military officer’s death raised serious questions about the country’s security framework.
“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 caucus called for an immediate overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture and demanded a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Abubakar’s abduction and death.
The opposition lawmakers also drew attention to the plight of schoolchildren and teachers reportedly abducted in Oyo State, urging security agencies to launch urgent operations 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 stated.
On political developments, the caucus criticised a recent Federal High Court ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five opposition political parties.
The lawmakers argued that the judgment could create uncertainty within the political system and weaken opposition participation ahead of the 2027 elections. They further maintained that the ruling conflicted with an existing Court of Appeal decision and disregarded submissions made by INEC concerning 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,” Agbedi alleged.
While condemning the judgment, the caucus welcomed the intervention of the Court of Appeal, which has reportedly halted the enforcement of the lower court’s decision pending further legal proceedings.
The Minority Caucus reiterated its commitment to holding the government accountable through legislative channels and insisted that opposition parties would continue to participate actively in Nigeria’s democratic process despite perceived attempts to sideline them.
