Kebbi State’s political landscape took a dramatic turn as former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, formally unveiled and inaugurated the Director-General and more than 600 members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Campaign Council, setting in motion what could become one of the most extensive grassroots political mobilisation structures in the state.
The inauguration signalled the beginning of a major political offensive by the ADC, with Malami charging the newly constituted campaign team to take the party’s message to every local government, ward, community and polling unit across Kebbi State.
Before party leaders, candidates, stakeholders, women, youths and supporters, Malami made it clear that the gathering went far beyond the distribution of political appointments.
According to him, the unveiling represented the establishment of a formidable, inclusive and coordinated political structure designed to pursue the collective aspirations of ADC candidates across the state.
The more than 600-member council draws its membership from different communities, local government areas, senatorial districts and backgrounds, in what Malami described as a deliberate attempt to reflect the diversity of Kebbi State and give every section a stake in the emerging political movement.
At the centre of the campaign are the party’s senatorial candidates — Gen. Aminu Bande for Kebbi Central, Garba Maidoki for Kebbi South and Chiroman Kabi, Alh. Mera, for Kebbi North — alongside ADC candidates seeking seats in the House of Representatives, Kebbi State House of Assembly and other elective offices.
But Malami delivered a strong warning against allowing individual political ambitions to fracture the emerging structure.
“This Campaign Council represents our collective ADC campaign. It is not about one candidate or one elective position. From the governorship to the Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly, we must work as one political family,” he declared.
With the emphatic message of “One ADC, One Campaign,” Malami challenged members to abandon internal rivalries, sectional interests and personality-driven politics, insisting that the strength of the party would depend on its ability to operate as a single political force.
He warned that tribalism, sectionalism and internal sabotage could destroy even the strongest political movement, stressing that no senatorial district, local government, ward, community or genuine party member should be made to feel excluded.
Malami equally opened the door to reconciliation within the ADC, directing campaign leaders to reach out to aggrieved members and those who may have supported different aspirants during earlier political contests.
“Where there are disagreements, let us reconcile. Where there are grievances, let us listen. Where there is suspicion, let us rebuild trust. Our diversity must become our strength,” he said.
His message was unmistakable: the coming political battle in Kebbi must not be fought with a divided house.
“Different candidates, one ADC. Different communities, one Kebbi State. Different responsibilities, one common purpose,” Malami declared.
The former minister further warned against the dangerous practice of politicians publicly appearing united while privately working against one another.
He maintained that every ADC candidate must regard the success of another candidate as a victory for the entire party, while campaign structures at all levels must coordinate their activities rather than operate as competing political camps.
Beyond mobilisation, Malami laid down strict expectations for the conduct of the campaign.
He directed members of the council to maintain discipline, dignity and respect for political opponents and the electorate, insisting that the ADC’s campaign in Kebbi must remain peaceful, lawful and issue-based.
He specifically cautioned against ethnic insults, hate speech and attacks on citizens because of their backgrounds or political choices.
In a powerful reminder of the consequences of inflammatory politics, Malami told supporters that elections would come and go, but the relationships holding Kebbi communities together would remain.
“After the elections, we will still worship together, attend the same markets, celebrate together, mourn together and raise our children together. No political ambition is worth destroying those bonds,” he said.
For the Director-General and more than 600 members now carrying the ADC campaign mandate, Malami said their appointments must not be regarded as political trophies.
Rather, he described them as a call to service and a responsibility to organise communities, mobilise voters, reconcile aggrieved members, listen to ordinary citizens and expand the ADC’s presence across Kebbi State.
He challenged every campaign council member to measure success not by the prominence of the title received but by tangible political work accomplished on the ground.
According to him, the real test would be the number of communities mobilised, grievances resolved, citizens engaged and new supporters persuaded to join the ADC movement.
The inauguration therefore marks the opening of a new and potentially decisive phase of political mobilisation in Kebbi, with the ADC seeking to convert its expanding structure into a grassroots movement capable of competing aggressively across the state.
Malami urged members of the council to return to their communities as bridge-builders and ambassadors of the party, strengthening local structures and ensuring that no part of Kebbi State feels abandoned or politically irrelevant.
“We choose unity over division. We choose cooperation over rivalry. We choose reconciliation over bitterness. We choose respect over insults. We choose service over personal interest,” he declared.
As the massive campaign machinery begins to move from the inauguration ground into communities across the state, Malami left supporters with a final rallying call that captured both the scale of the task ahead and the political momentum the ADC hopes to build.
“Today is not a reward for work completed. Today is the beginning of the work. Let us arise above our differences. Let us arise above tribalism and sectionalism. Let us arise together in service to our people. And together, let us make Kebbi State shine. Arise and Shine!”
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