Kebbi 2027: APC defends gov’s record

File photo: Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris.

The Kebbi State Government has defended Governor Nasir Idris’ administration ahead of the 2027 governorship election, citing its achievements in workers’ welfare, education, healthcare and infrastructure.

It also accused the opposition African Democratic Congress of spreading falsehoods and sponsoring political thuggery.

The governor’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Abdullahi Idris, made the allegations in a statement on Sunday, highlighting what he described as the achievements of the All Progressives Congress administration and the alleged shortcomings of the ADC’s campaign strategy.

Idris said beneficiaries of the Idris administration had continued to express confidence in the governor’s leadership, citing his commitment to workers’ welfare, peaceful coexistence and socioeconomic development.

He said the APC’s anticipated campaign would be anchored on the administration’s record, adding that its achievements had earned the governor widespread support for a second term.

According to him, the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, through its chairman, Comrade Murtala Usman, acknowledged the governor’s commitment to civil servants, including the payment of inherited pension and gratuity arrears and the regular settlement of workers’ entitlements.

“Civil servants in Kebbi State have never had it so good,” Idris quoted Usman as saying.

He added that the administration also addressed longstanding financial obligations to retired workers, with more than N7bn reportedly paid in inherited gratuity, death benefits and pension arrears.

On education, the governor’s aide said the Nigeria Union of Teachers had acknowledged several interventions, including the rehabilitation of more than 3,000 primary and secondary schools, the construction of 300 new schools and the employment of over 2,000 teachers.

He also listed the extension of teachers’ retirement age from 60 to 65 years and their length of service from 35 to 40 years, payment of the N75,000 minimum wage with arrears, an increase in students’ feeding allowances and the introduction of allowances for primary school headteachers.

Idris quoted the NUT as describing the extension of teachers’ retirement age and service years, alongside the provision of teaching and learning materials, as unprecedented in the state’s history.

The governor’s aide also quoted the Emir of Yauri, Dr Zayyanu Abdullahi, as acknowledging the administration’s interventions in Yauri, Shanga and Ngaski local government areas.

• I won’t step down for Ebonyi gov – PDP candidate
• Sanwo-Olu opens Lagos APC campaign headquarters
• Adelabu denies calling on Nigerians to reject APC

He said the traditional ruler highlighted projects including the construction of schools and hospitals, rehabilitation of healthcare centres with modern equipment and ambulances, construction of a multipurpose secondary school and improvements to township and intercity roads.

Other projects, according to Idris, included upgrading the general hospital to a referral facility, renovating the palaces of the emir and district heads, providing official vehicles and distributing free agricultural inputs and palliatives.

The governor’s aide, however, accused the ADC and its governorship candidate, a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), of resorting to what he described as baseless allegations and political attacks against the ruling party.

He also alleged that the opposition was linked to the destruction of APC billboards, posters and vehicles belonging to the ruling party’s supporters during recent violence in Jega.

Idris called on security agencies to investigate the incident and ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.

He urged traditional and religious leaders to promote peaceful conduct among political supporters as activities ahead of the 2027 general elections intensify.

The aide further criticised Malami’s Independence Day broadcast, in which the ADC candidate reportedly promised prompt payment of salaries and the provision of a befitting secretariat for workers.

According to Idris, the NLC dismissed the pledges as “baseless political statements aimed at deceiving citizens on issues already addressed.”

He said the union pointed to the ultra-modern state secretariat inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu and the payment of inherited pension and gratuity arrears as evidence of the incumbent administration’s performance.

Idris maintained that the ADC’s promises failed to acknowledge what he described as the progress already recorded under Idris.

He alleged that the opposition’s campaign council was relying on fabricated claims and a campaign of calumny rather than presenting a record of comparable achievements.

The political atmosphere in Kebbi is expected to intensify as parties position themselves for the 2027 governorship election.