Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kebbi State for the 2027 general elections.
Malami, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress to the ADC, was affirmed as the party’s consensus aspirant, emerging unopposed in the ADC governorship primary.
The announcement, made on Sunday, came through a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, signalling that the former minister is not only back in the political arena, but is positioning himself for a return to power through a fresh electoral platform.
The ADC did not stop at the governorship. Alongside Malami’s affirmation, the party also affirmed retired military officer Aminu Bande as its senatorial candidate for Kebbi Central. A retired Deputy Comptroller-General, Ibrahim Muhammad Mera, emerged as the party’s candidate for Kebbi North Senatorial District.
Garba Danjuma Limi was affirmed as the ADC senatorial candidate for Kebbi South. The move signals a coordinated, state-wide electoral structure taking shape nearly two years before the polls — an unusually early and determined organisational push for a party widely regarded as a challenger to the dominant All Progressives Congress.
The ADC’s choice of Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who served in the highest law office in the federation under former President Muhammadu Buhari, suggests the party is banking on name recognition, legal pedigree, and regional influence to mount a credible challenge.
Malami is currently standing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of massive financial misconduct.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Malami alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procurement, concealment, and laundering of proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to N8,713,923,759.49, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The trial is actively progressing. At a recent hearing, a prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, testified that the bank filed Suspicious Transaction Reports on transactions linked to the former minister’s accounts.
The prosecution alleged that the scheme ran between 2015 and 2025 through multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value property acquisitions across Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi states. The case was adjourned till June 23, 2026, for continuation of trial.
Malami has, however, consistently denied the charges. His camp has maintained that he is the victim of political persecution, alleging that the prosecution is a calculated attempt to silence him and derail his political ambitions.
Despite the legal turbulence, the ADC appears unwavering. The party said it remained committed to “purposeful leadership, good governance, justice, security, and sustainable development for Kebbi State and Nigeria as a whole,” with Malami adding: “Together, with unity and determination, we shall build a more prosperous future for generations to come.”
Whether those words resonate with voters in Kebbi or are drowned out by the din of courtroom proceedings, remains to be seen.
What is certain is that Abubakar Malami, embattled but undaunted, has fired the starting gun on what may be one of the most closely watched governorship contests in North-West Nigeria come 2027.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Despite facing a 16-count money laundering trial over alleged proceeds of N8.7 billion, former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami has secured the ADC governorship ticket in Kebbi State for 2027, setting up a direct clash with incumbent Governor Nasir Idris of the APC.
