A former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has returned to Kebbi State after spending 123 days away from public view following his detention and subsequent legal proceedings, triggering a large-scale reception from supporters that brought parts of the state capital to a standstill.
Malami, who was picked up on December 8, 2025 after honouring an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, was held in custody for 99 days before being granted bail on March 22, 2026.
His release was followed by an additional period of restricted public movement in Abuja before he eventually made his way back to Kebbi.
His arrival on Saturday drew thousands of supporters from across the state, with major roads overwhelmed by human and vehicular traffic as cheering crowds lined the streets to welcome him home.
Many of the supporters were seen waving African Democratic Congress (ADC) flags, chanting solidarity songs and hailing the former minister.
The gathering, described by observers as one of the most significant political crowds witnessed in Kebbi in recent times, quickly took on a political tone, with supporters projecting Malami’s return as a possible turning point in the state’s evolving political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
Some of his loyalists expressed confidence that his re-emergence would strengthen the opposition’s footing in Kebbi, particularly within the ADC, which has in recent months been seeking to expand its influence in the North-West region.
Although Malami has not publicly declared any governorship ambition, speculation continues to mount over his next political move, with many of his supporters already positioning him as a central figure in the state’s 2027 political calculations.
For many in the crowd, however, the moment was less about electoral politics and more about solidarity, as they described his return as symbolic of resilience and political survival in a highly charged environment.
As celebrations stretched into the evening, analysts say the scale of the turnout may mark the beginning of a renewed and intense political contest in Kebbi State, where alignments ahead of 2027 are already beginning to take shape.