The Kebbi State Government has accused former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami of politicising a United Nations Development Programme poverty report, firing back on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at the ADC governorship candidate's attacks on Governor Nasir Idris' administration.
According to Punch Newspapers, Information and Culture Commissioner Yakubu Ahmed-BK delivered the government's position in Birnin Kebbi, dismissing Malami's use of the UNDP report as a political weapon ahead of the 2027 elections rather than a genuine offer of solutions to the people of Kebbi.
Who Is Abubakar Malami and Why Does It Matter?
Malami served as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice under former President Muhammadu Buhari. He has spent recent months hammering the Kebbi State Government over poverty, insecurity and poor access to basic services like water, positioning himself as a challenger for the state's top job in 2027.
Ahmed-BK's response was blunt. He argued that the UNDP report, which reportedly ranked Kebbi among Nigeria's poorest states, cannot be used to judge the current administration without examining the period the data covers, its methodology and the interventions the government has made since.
He accused Malami of cherry-picking the findings to discredit the APC-led government instead of proposing practical answers for residents.
“The question is not whether poverty exists in Kebbi; the question is what caused it, who had the opportunity to address it, and what is being done today to overcome it,” the commissioner said.
“Poverty is a serious social challenge, not a political trophy to be brandished for electoral advantage.”
What Has the Idris Government Done About Poverty?
The commissioner listed a wide range of interventions the administration says it has delivered since Governor Idris took office amid serious economic and developmental challenges. These include road construction, fertiliser distribution, improved agricultural inputs, solar-powered water pumps, food assistance, teacher recruitment, scholarships and cash-transfer programmes.
Ahmed-BK insisted that persistent poverty does not automatically mean a government has failed, arguing that development requires sustained investment and long-term work, not quick fixes.
“Kebbi cannot afford to abandon a path of development simply because those seeking political power choose to magnify its challenges while overlooking the work being done,” he said.
“Our people deserve honest debate, responsible leadership and practical solutions, not the politicisation of their difficulties.”
The Insecurity Debate: Trucks, Motorcycles and a Disputed Death Toll
On banditry, the commissioner defended the state's record with hard figures. He said the government has procured hundreds of Hilux vehicles and thousands of motorcycles for the military, police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, hunters and vigilante groups.
The administration has also backed additional security formations, including the 28 Armoured Brigade in Birnin Kebbi, the 281 Tank Battalion in Yauri and the 381 Artillery Regiment in Kaoje. Governor Idris has visited attacked communities, delivered relief materials and pushed for better security coordination across the state.
Ahmed-BK also confronted Malami over a reported claim from June 2025 that around 200 people were killed in Tadurga Ward of Zuru Emirate. He said statements from local security authorities, local government officials and the Zuru Emirate Council later put the death toll significantly lower, though the commissioner did not cite the specific figures in his statement.
He warned that unverified casualty numbers heighten public anxiety and politicise the pain of communities already suffering.
The Water Question and the Properties Allegedly Linked to Malami
The sharpest exchange came over potable water. Ahmed-BK questioned Malami's standing to raise the issue, pointing to reports about properties confiscated in Birnin Kebbi, including a house allegedly linked to Malami's child.
His argument was pointed: the value of a single expensive property could fund several community water projects, depending on costs and technical needs. In other words, those who held power should explain what they did with it before lecturing those now doing the work.
Still, the commissioner played it straight on the law. He acknowledged that questions of ownership, acquisition or confiscation of the properties must be settled through proper legal processes and cannot be treated as established facts. He gave no further details on the properties or any legal proceedings.
“Those who had the privilege of serving at the highest levels of government cannot simply detach themselves from the conditions that prevailed during their tenure and then present themselves as though they were never part of the system they now criticise,” Ahmed-BK added.
Why This Fight Matters for 2027
This back-and-forth is the opening round of what promises to be a fierce contest for Kebbi's political leadership. With the 2027 general elections drawing closer, Governor Idris and Malami have emerged as the two dominant figures in the race, and every report, statistic and casualty figure is now ammunition.
The pattern is familiar across Nigeria, where opposition politicians weaponise international reports to attack sitting governments, and incumbents respond by demanding context, methodology and accountability from their critics. Kebbi's version of that battle is now fully underway.
Ahmed-BK urged Malami and other political actors to move beyond criticism and present credible policy alternatives on poverty, unemployment, insecurity and access to essential services. He also called on residents to scrutinise the claims of every political actor and judge the administration on its performance, accountability and commitment to public welfare.
For now, the ball is in Malami's court. The people of Kebbi will decide in 2027 whose story they believe: the man who ran the Federal Government's legal machinery for eight years, or the governor asking to be measured by what he has built on the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Kebbi State Government accuse Abubakar Malami of?
The government accused Malami of politicising a UNDP poverty report to attack Governor Nasir Idris' administration ahead of the 2027 elections, rather than offering practical solutions to the state's challenges.
Who responded to Malami on behalf of the Kebbi State Government?
Information and Culture Commissioner Yakubu Ahmed-BK delivered the government's response on Sunday, October 18, 2026, in Birnin Kebbi, according to Punch Newspapers.
What security support has Kebbi State provided?
The government said it procured hundreds of Hilux vehicles and thousands of motorcycles for security agencies and community-based groups, and backed formations including the 28 Armoured Brigade and the 281 Tank Battalion in Yauri.
What did Malami claim about the Tadurga attack?
Malami reportedly claimed in June 2025 that about 200 people were killed in Tadurga Ward of Zuru Emirate. The commissioner said local security authorities, council officials and the Zuru Emirate Council disputed that figure, placing the toll significantly lower.