Malami supporters hand out exotic cars to Kebbi politicians as his governorship bid gathers pace

ATTORNEY-general of the federation Abubakar Malami's quest to become the next governor of Kebbi State has got off to a colourful start after his loyalists kick-started his campaign by donating exotic cars to party delegates.

Mr Malami's tenure as attorney-general and justice minister is due to end next year with the end of the Buhari presidency. Last week, he announced that he would be looking to run for the governorship of his native Kebbi State.

According to Umar Gwandu, one of Mr Malami's aides, his friends and associates have donated exotic vehicles of assorted brands to loyalists in Kebbi State. Shared out to members of the Kebbi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the gifts are clearly designed to influence delegates and get them to vote for Mr Malami in the party primaries.

Mr Gwandu said the ministers’ friends also supported his governorship ambition with a sum of N135m ($325,155). There have been reports if Mr Malami donating sports utility vehicles of assorted brands to politicians in Kebbi State but Mr Gwandu said the friends of his principal gifted the vehicles to long-term workers in the Khadimiyya Foundation.

Apparently, Mr Malami is one of the stakeholders of the non-governmental organisation known as the Khadimiyya Foundation for Social Justice and Development Initiative which is based in Kebbi State.  Mr Malami us now hoping to succeed Governor Atiku Bagudu in May 2023.

Mr Gwandu added: “It is abundantly clear that the attorney-general of the federation and Abubakar Malami, has teaming supporters from home and beyond. This has been demonstrated not only by the calls from far and near for him to vie for the Kebbi gubernatorial seat in the forthcoming election but also by donations from friends, associates and supporters of N135m.

“The recent donation of N135m has opened doors for donations and supports of many items including vehicles by well-wishers. The story attributing vehicle distribution to Malami was mischievous and misconstrued information as it was friends and associates of Malami who donated and distributed vehicles to long term workers in the Khadimiyya Foundation.

“The occasion was not for distribution of vehicles to any APC stakeholder. None of the APC stakeholders or delegates in Kebbi State was given any vehicle by Malami.

“You can contact the national secretariat of the APC, get the lists of all the APC stakeholders and delegates in Kebbi State. Do an investigative story to reach out to them then you will realise how fictitious is the claim. Comparing the names of APC stakeholders and the beneficiaries of the vehicle will reveal to you that there is no connection between the two and the two are not connected whatsoever.”