THE Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend all political activities related to the 2027 general elections and immediately announce a six-month national security and economic recovery plan to address the country’s mounting challenges.
News Point Nigeria reports that the call was made on Wednesday in Abuja by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rep. Fred Agbedi, during an interaction with journalists.
Agbedi alleged that President Tinubu is placing greater emphasis on re-election politics than on the safety, welfare and well-being of Nigerians at a time when the country is grappling with serious security and economic challenges.
According to him, Nigeria is currently facing an unprecedented crisis characterised by killings, kidnappings, economic hardship and what he described as coordinated efforts to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The life of every Nigerian matters. Politics must take the back seat when the nation bleeds. We must secure Nigeria first,” Agbedi said.
“President Tinubu must suspend all 2027 political activities and declare a six-month national security and economic recovery plan. Lead or leave.”
The Minority Leader, who was flanked by other opposition lawmakers, cited the recent killing of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who died in captivity after being abducted alongside his wife in Katsina State, as evidence of what he described as a failing security architecture.
Agbedi described the death of the retired senior military officer as a national embarrassment and a stark reflection of the deteriorating security situation across the country.
He argued that if a retired general could be abducted and eventually die in captivity, then the safety of ordinary Nigerians should be a major source of concern.
“If a general is not safe within the borders of our nation, then who truly is?” Agbedi asked.
The opposition lawmaker also condemned the continued captivity of schoolchildren and their teachers who were abducted in Oyo State, accusing the government of failing to take decisive and urgent action to tackle the growing menace of mass kidnappings.
He called for a special military operation aimed at securing the release of the victims within 72 hours, stressing that every additional hour spent in captivity represents a grave loss to the nation.
The Minority Leader said every hour the abducted children and their tutors remain in the hands of their captors is “an hour stolen from Nigeria’s future.”
Agbedi further criticised the recent judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five opposition political parties.
He described the ruling as judicial overreach and alleged that it was designed to narrow the democratic space ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to him, the verdict raises concerns about the future of political pluralism and the ability of opposition parties to participate freely in the democratic process.
The Minority Caucus maintained that safeguarding democratic institutions, restoring security and stabilising the economy should take precedence over political calculations as the country prepares for another election cycle.
News Point Nigeria reports that the opposition lawmakers’ position comes amid growing national debate over insecurity, economic hardship and the political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 general elections.