The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has accused the federal government of neglecting governance responsibilities, worsening insecurity across the country, and allegedly using state institutions to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minority Leader in the House, Hon. Fred Agbedi, said the country was confronting a troubling mix of insecurity, economic hardship, and what he described as efforts to weaken democratic opposition through the judiciary.
The lawmakers expressed deep concern over the killing of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who reportedly died in captivity after being abducted alongside his wife in Katsina State.
They described the incident as a national tragedy and a reflection of the worsening security situation in the country.
Agbedi said the development highlighted the government’s inability to protect citizens, stressing that even high-ranking retired military officers were no longer safe. He warned that the situation pointed to a broader breakdown in national security.
He stated: “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 also noted that the killing came amid previous deaths of senior military personnel engaged in counter-insurgency operations, warning that insecurity had now spread across multiple regions.
According to Agbedi, the administration of President Bola Tinubu must urgently present a clear and effective strategy to address banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping, which continue to threaten lives nationwide.
The lawmakers further raised alarm over the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State, demanding immediate action 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.
They called for a coordinated rescue operation, insisting that prolonged delay would further endanger the victims.
On the political front, the caucus criticised a recent Federal High Court ruling ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties.
The lawmakers argued that the judgment risked creating confusion in the electoral system and could be interpreted as an attempt to weaken opposition participation ahead of 2027.
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Agbedi said the ruling contradicted an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal and ignored INEC’s position on 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 caucus, however, noted that the Court of Appeal had intervened to halt the enforcement of the lower court’s decision.
They further accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (All Progressives Congress) and the Presidency of focusing more on political strategies for 2027 rather than addressing the country’s worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and rising hunger.
“The life of every Nigerian matters. Politics must take the back seat when the nation bleeds. We must secure Nigeria first,” Agbedi said.
Among its key demands, the caucus called for a comprehensive overhaul of the security architecture, a transparent investigation into the abduction and killing of General Rabe Abubakar, and urgent intervention by the Chief Justice of Nigeria over conflicting judicial rulings on party registration issues.
They also urged President Tinubu to suspend all activities tied to the 2027 elections and instead introduce a six-month National Security and Economic Recovery Plan aimed at addressing urgent national challenges.
The Minority Caucus pledged to continue holding the government accountable through legislative oversight, insisting that opposition voices would not be silenced or excluded from the democratic process ahead of the next general election.