KEBBI 2027: Why Governor Idris Stands Head and Shoulders Above Malami – Zuru

By Aliyu Usman, Birnin Kebbi

As political activity gathers pace ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Kebbi State, the emerging contest between Governor Nasir Idris of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is increasingly being framed around their records, political experience and competing claims about the state’s future.

Supporters of Governor Idris argue that his record in government, including projects and interventions in infrastructure, education, healthcare and other sectors, gives him a strong basis on which to seek another term.

Supporters of Malami, meanwhile, point to his experience at the federal level and his years as Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The contest is therefore likely to involve more than party structures. It is also becoming a debate over governance records, public accountability, development priorities and the political reputations of the two contenders.

Idris’ Supporters Point to His Political and Labour Background

Governor Nasir Idris entered partisan politics after a long career in organised labour and education.

He trained as a teacher and rose through the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), serving at local and state levels before eventually becoming national president of the union. He also served as Deputy National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

His supporters say that background shaped his emphasis on workers’ welfare and social development after becoming governor.

The Bureau Journal has previously reported on the Kebbi Government’s review of the salary structure for primary school teachers, with a committee identifying more than 29,000 teachers across the state.

The report submitted to Governor Idris included recommendations relating to salary administration, personnel records and working conditions.

Development Record Has Become a Central Campaign Argument

Another major part of the case being made by Idris’ supporters is the number of projects and government interventions undertaken since he assumed office.

The administration has highlighted activities across infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and investment as evidence of its development agenda.

The Bureau Journal’s review of Kebbi’s development trajectory at 35 examined some of the policies and institutional initiatives associated with the state’s current administration and previous governments.

In the investment sector, the government has also been pursuing reforms intended to improve the state’s ability to attract businesses and mobilise internally generated revenue.

Recent investment reforms in Kebbi have focused on strengthening the state’s investment promotion structures and creating a more investor-friendly environment.

Similarly, the administration has placed greater emphasis on internally generated revenue as part of its broader fiscal strategy. The Bureau Journal recently examined Kebbi’s IGR and tax reform push and the government’s argument that stronger local revenue mobilisation could provide additional resources for development.

Malami Brings Federal Experience — and Legal Controversy

Malami brings a substantially different political profile to the contest.

He served as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2023 and was one of the most prominent legal officials in the Buhari administration.

His political campaign now faces an important additional issue: ongoing legal proceedings involving assets linked to him and members of his family.

In July 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to Malami and other respondents following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court held that the claimants had not sufficiently established that the properties were lawfully acquired.

The proceedings had previously involved 57 properties, with the EFCC seeking their final forfeiture to the Federal Government on the grounds that they were suspected proceeds of unlawful activities. Malami’s legal representatives challenged the allegations and argued that the EFCC had not established its case.

The development has become part of the political conversation surrounding his governorship bid. The ADC has rejected the suggestion that the legal proceedings should be treated as proof of political wrongdoing, with the party alleging that the prosecution is politically motivated.

The Bureau Journal has also previously reported the competing narratives surrounding Malami’s ongoing legal proceedings, including allegations by his supporters that some aspects of the case have received disproportionate media attention.

The Political Argument Over Development and Accountability

The emerging campaign debate has also shifted towards government spending and accountability.

The ADC has questioned aspects of the Nasir Idris administration’s financial management, while the APC and government officials have challenged the opposition to provide evidence for some of its claims.

The Bureau Journal recently reported the latest exchange after the APC responded to the ADC’s claims concerning Kebbi’s finances and development record.

In a separate response, an aide to Governor Idris challenged critics of the administration to support their financial allegations with documentary evidence, arguing that public accountability should be based on verifiable records rather than political assertions.

Those exchanges show how public finance is likely to become an important issue in the 2027 campaign. Voters will have to assess competing claims about revenue, expenditure, projects and the impact of government policies.

Security and Social Services Will Also Shape the Debate

Governance in Kebbi cannot be separated from security, particularly as parts of the state continue to confront attacks and other threats.

Governor Idris has convened security meetings in response to attacks in some communities and has repeatedly presented security as a major responsibility of his administration.

The Bureau Journal recently reported on an emergency security meeting convened by the governor following renewed attacks.

Education and healthcare are also likely to feature prominently in the election debate. The government has continued to announce interventions in both sectors, including a recent medical outreach expected to benefit about 3,000 residents.

The medical outreach involving doctors from Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries is one example of the healthcare initiatives being highlighted by the administration.

What the 2027 Contest Is Really Becoming About

The growing rivalry between Idris and Malami is increasingly becoming a contest between two different political profiles.

Idris is presenting the case of an incumbent seeking to build on a record accumulated during his first term. His supporters point to projects, institutional reforms, workers’ policies and interventions across different sectors.

Malami enters the race with national political and legal experience, having spent eight years as the country’s chief law officer under the Buhari administration. His campaign will have to make its case against the incumbent while also addressing the continuing public debate surrounding his legal affairs.

Neither side’s political claims should be treated as established fact simply because they are made during an election campaign. Development claims can be examined through budgets, project records and measurable outcomes, while allegations concerning criminal conduct remain matters for the courts and relevant investigative agencies.

For Kebbi voters, the 2027 contest will ultimately provide an opportunity to compare the candidates’ records, programmes, experience and explanations on the issues affecting the state.

The argument that Governor Nasir Idris is politically stronger than Malami is therefore best understood as the position of his supporters, rather than an established electoral fact. The competing claims will continue to be tested as the campaign develops and the candidates present their programmes to voters across Kebbi’s 21 local government areas.