Lawmakers at the House of Representatives
The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government to secure the release of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State, while also calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s security framework.
Addressing journalists at the National Assembly on Wednesday, House Minority Leader, Fred Agbedi, criticised the current state of national security and questioned the effectiveness of the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in 2025. He argued that the measure appeared to be aimed more at political opponents than at tackling the country’s worsening security challenges.
Agbedi urged the Federal Government to move beyond what he described as propaganda and focus on strengthening intelligence gathering, improving the welfare of troops on the frontlines, and ensuring political appointees are held accountable.
The caucus also condemned the killing of Major-General Rabe Abubakar while in the custody of terrorists in Katsina State. Agbedi demanded a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the senior military officer’s abduction and death.
According to him, Nigerians deserve answers on how armed groups have become bold enough to kidnap and kill military generals without facing immediate consequences.
On the abduction of the Oyo schoolchildren and their teachers, the Minority Caucus called for urgent military action.
“The caucus demands a special military operation within 72 hours to rescue the school children and their teachers without excuses,” Agbedi said.
He added that Nigerians were tired of recurring mass abductions and a situation where terrorists appeared to dictate terms while government responses remained limited to public statements.
The lawmakers also reacted to the recent judgment by Justice Lifu ordering the deregistration of five political parties. Agbedi described the ruling as an attempt to create confusion within the political system and undermine democratic participation.
He said the judgment represented “rascality taken too far” and warned that it posed a threat to participatory democracy.
The caucus called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to intervene and address what it described as conflicting court decisions on party deregistration in order to protect the credibility of the judiciary.
It further urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to allow itself to be used in actions capable of weakening Nigeria’s democratic process.
According to Agbedi, the opposition would resist any attempt to manipulate the 2027 general elections before the electoral process even begins.
The caucus also challenged President Tinubu to suspend all political activities related to the 2027 elections and instead concentrate on governance and national recovery.
It called on the President to introduce a six-month National Security and Economic Recovery Plan, stressing that the protection of lives and improvement of citizens’ welfare should remain the government’s top priority.
“Politics must take the back seat when the country bleeds,” Agbedi said, urging the administration to focus on restoring security and economic stability.
While acknowledging the frustrations of many Nigerians, the Minority Caucus appealed to citizens not to lose hope, insisting that the outcome of the 2027 elections would ultimately be determined by voters and not by political influence or judicial interference.
“The 2027 general election will not be decided in Aso Rock or by compromised courts but by the people,” the caucus stated.
