The Kebbi State Government has accused former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, of politicising a United Nations Development Programme poverty report to criticise Governor Nasir Idris’s administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed-BK, made the accusation on Sunday in Birnin Kebbi while responding to Malami’s comments on poverty, insecurity and inadequate access to potable water in the state.
Malami, who is the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has cited the poverty report to question the performance of the All Progressives Congress led administration.
However, Ahmed-BK argued that the report should be examined in relation to the period covered by its data, the methodology used and interventions introduced by successive governments. He accused Malami of relying on the findings to gain political advantage without presenting practical solutions to the challenges facing residents.
The commissioner said poverty remained a serious concern but insisted that the state government should be assessed through verifiable projects, policies and measurable development outcomes.
He also questioned Malami’s record during his time as Attorney General under former President Muhammadu Buhari, arguing that his years in the Federal Government should be considered when discussing the causes of poverty and insecurity in Kebbi.
On security, Ahmed-BK defended the Idris administration, saying it had provided operational vehicles and motorcycles to security agencies and supported additional security formations to improve responses to attacks.
The commissioner also challenged Malami’s reported claim that about 200 people were killed in Tadurga Ward of Zuru Emirate in June 2025. He said accounts attributed to local security authorities, government officials and the Zuru Emirate Council disputed the figure. However, he did not provide the alternative casualty figures in his statement.
The government further defended its efforts in agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure and social welfare, listing fertiliser distribution, scholarships, food assistance, road construction and cash transfer programmes among its interventions.
The dispute comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, with Malami positioning himself as a challenger to the incumbent administration.
The UNDP poverty findings and the competing claims about the state government’s performance remain important issues for public scrutiny. Assessing progress will require examining the report’s underlying data alongside current poverty indicators, budget records and independently verified results.
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