N627bn revenue: Kebbi govt, Malami camp lock horns over alleged financial mismanagement
Kebbi State Finances Emerge as Key Political Issue Ahead of 2027 Elections
As the 2027 general elections approach, financial management in Kebbi State has become a focal point in local politics. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has demanded a comprehensive account of funds it claims the state accrued between May 2023 and October 2025.
The ADC estimates that Kebbi State received approximately N627.14 billion during this period and is calling for detailed records of revenue, expenditures, and completed projects. The state government has dismissed the ADC’s claims of financial mismanagement, arguing that projected figures in government budgets do not equate to actual funds received.
The political conflict has escalated, involving the ADC, the state government, and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The APC has also sought to scrutinize the financial history of Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who is supporting the ADC in the upcoming elections.
Bello Abdullahi, the Director of Strategic Communications for the ADC Kebbi State Campaign Council, emphasized that their figure of N627.14 billion was based on data from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the National Bureau of Statistics, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), and the World Bank.
“Our N627.14 billion figure is not an allegation,” Abdullahi stated. He urged the APC and the state government to provide counter-figures if they dispute the amount, criticizing the government’s response as inadequate.
The ADC also raised concerns about discrepancies between budget projections and actual revenue, particularly in areas such as agriculture, transportation, education, and health. Among the specific expenditures questioned were N1 billion reportedly spent on vehicle maintenance and approximately N4.6 billion on local travel and transportation. The ADC is demanding clarity on these expenditures and their impacts.
In response, the Kebbi State government contended that the ADC misrepresents the nature of financial projections in a budget. Ibrahim Abubakar Jombali, Special Adviser to Governor Nasir Idris on Public Enlightenment, explained that budgeting reflects estimated revenues and expenditures, not the actual funds available.
“There is no missing money in the figures he cites. There is only unrealized revenue,” Jombali stated, refuting the notion that discrepancies in the Capital Development Fund indicated missing funds.
The state government reported receiving over N172 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, achieving 82.6 percent of its N209.25 billion revenue projection. It also acknowledged that internal revenue collections fell short of expectations. The government adjusted its expenditures accordingly, allocating nearly N240 billion, including more than N152 billion for capital projects.
Kebbi’s broader financial controversy involves its N580.33 billion budget for 2025, which the government previously defended against claims of mismanagement. Officials revealed that while the Capital Development Fund was projected at N276.27 billion, only N47.45 billion was realized, attributing the shortfall to unrealized revenue.
Yahaya Sarki, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Idris, challenged ADC to specify any expenditures it deems unlawful or wasteful, encouraging them to provide evidence.
“The central issue is not just the amount of money that came into the state, but how available resources were appropriated and spent,” Sarki said.
The ADC has rejected the government’s explanations as insufficient and reiterated its demands for detailed financial and procurement records from relevant authorities, including the House of Assembly and the Auditor-General.
This political dispute has further intensified with the APC questioning the ADC’s calls for accountability from the Kebbi government while highlighting ongoing legal issues surrounding Malami and his family properties. The APC suggests that the standards of accountability sought should also apply to Malami and his associates.
