Ahead of the 2027 general elections, governorship candidates of the seven North West states on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC on Wednesday, carpeted the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors of the zone saying they have failed in implementing projects that will move the people out of poverty
The governors signed a development agreement to implement a minimum wage of N110,000 for workers across the states in the region
Speaking on behalf of the candidates, former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami disclosed that this is contained in a blueprint for the socio-economic emancipation of the region
“Rather than progress, our people are more impoverished today than at any time in history Sadly, the current APC governors live in obscene affluence, building new government houses, buying exotic cars, travelling by private jet and displaying an opulence that offends the sensibilities of the very citizens whose commonwealth they were entrusted to steward,” he stated.
The declaration entitled “Northwest ADC Governorship Candidates’ Compact 2027–2031” is aimed at protecting citizens through reform and how to manage public resources responsibly for the benefit of the people
He said Wednesday was chosen because the Independent National Electoral Commission has approved the commencement of campaigns
He stressed that the region is “crisis ridden as over 16,000 lives have been lost on account of insecurity between June 2023 and August 2026, and more than 1,583 kidnapping incidents since January 2023 have taken over 10,000 of our people from their homes and farms
“Tens of thousands of households have been displaced, and more than 533,000 hectares of farmland in Zamfara and Katsina alone now lie abandoned Our region also accounts for 45 percent of Nigeria’s out-of-school children.
“Insecurity has emptied our farms, and those empty farms have brought hunger, driven our children out of the classroom, and have denied them the education the region requires to dry up the recruitment pool for future banditry, kidnappings and all associated crimes”
Following these challenges, Malami said their commitment is to “reorient governance to respond effectively and efficiently to break this vicious cycle of crisis, and restore peace, security and normalcy to our region”
According to him, states and Local Government Areas within the zone have received over N833 trillion in federal allocations between June 2023 and August 2026, and yet these revenues have not translated into accessible transport, affordable food and healthcare, functioning schools, and improved living conditions for our people.
He therefore vowed that individually and collectively; they have signed to take deliberate measures to “reverse this unacceptable reality and ensure that public resources deliver measurable improvements in the lives of our citizens This is why we commit to reform with responsibility, relief with accountability, and growth our citizens can feel.”
He said the level of looting across the Northwest under the current administrations is unprecedented, adding that the APC-led administrations in the region have little or nothing to show for their stewardship, or in the lives of our people
Malami, flanked by other candidates and running mates also declared their support for the promise by the ADC Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar that he will reverse the removal of fuel subsidy