Malami, Kebbi govt trade tackles over campaign attack

File: Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami

The Kebbi State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Abubakar Malami, and the state government have traded words over alleged attacks, intimidation and destruction of property during the party’s recent presidential campaign flag-off in Birnin Kebbi.

Malami accused the state government of allowing political thugs to attack members of the ADC campaign convoy and destroy media equipment.

But the government denied any involvement, insisting that the opposition party held its rally and left without interference.

Malami also called for an impartial investigation into the demolition of the Malami Pressure Group headquarters along Sani Abacha Bypass, Birnin Kebbi, describing the incident as a threat to democratic freedoms.

The former Minister of Justice made the allegations in a statement issued on Friday through his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Doka.

The allegations followed Thursday’s campaign flag-off attended by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and other national leaders of the ADC.

Malami alleged that political thugs attacked members of the campaign convoy, destroyed media equipment and that tear gas was deployed around areas occupied by members of the visiting delegation.

He warned against the use of political influence or government institutions to intimidate opposition members, insisting that any involvement of security agencies must be investigated.

“Any involvement of government institutions or security agencies in such actions is unacceptable and must be investigated,” he said.

He also faulted the circumstances surrounding the demolition of the Malami Pressure Group headquarters, arguing that the state government’s denial of involvement and its attribution of the incident to a private ownership dispute did not remove the need for transparency and accountability.

“The state government’s denial of involvement and its attribution of the demolition to a private ownership dispute do not remove the need for transparency and accountability,” he said.

Malami maintained that political disagreements should not result in violence, harassment or destruction of property, adding that the Constitution guaranteed citizens freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

He urged the state government, security agencies and political stakeholders to avoid actions capable of triggering violence and ensure a peaceful political environment.

The candidate also appealed to ADC supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, stressing that the party would pursue political change through democratic engagement.

However, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ahmed Idris, denied the allegations, stating that the state government neither intimidated the ADC members nor interfered with their campaign.

He said, “They came, they held their programme and left. It was even their supporters that destroyed our billboard. Government didn’t do anything to them.”