Atiku’s campaign dismisses Tinubu’s 90-day relief plan as election bait
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign council under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described President Bola Tinubu’s proposed 90-day cost-of-living relief plan as an election strategy, questioning its timing and demanding clear implementation details.
The council’s Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, made the allegation on Friday during a press conference at the ADC secretariat.
Shaibu argued that the initiative, announced ahead of the 2027 presidential election, raised questions about whether Nigerians would experience meaningful economic relief before voting.
“After three and a half years of hardship, this government is asking families to carry another promise into the polling booth and wait for relief until the votes are counted,” he said.
The government’s plan identifies five priorities: food affordability, tax harmonisation, completion of critical projects, removal of investment bottlenecks and household support.
However, Shaibu maintained that the administration had failed to adequately address rising food prices, transportation costs and difficulties facing manufacturers.
“A government cannot put a 90-day deadline on hunger, the cost-of-living crisis and insecurity and call it an economic policy,” he said.
He demanded specific information on how food prices would be reduced, which taxes would be harmonised and what projects the government intended to complete within the stipulated period.
The ADC spokesman also questioned the proposed household support programme, calling for transparency in beneficiary selection, payment amounts, funding arrangements and implementation timelines.
Shaibu raised concerns about a registration exercise reportedly conducted under the name “Arise for Tinubu 2027”, alleging that the platform requested voters’ identification details, bank information and telephone numbers.
He urged the government to clarify whether the exercise was connected to public assistance programmes and explain safeguards against the political misuse of personal information.
On petrol prices, Shaibu challenged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to publish details of its reported fuel discount initiative, including participating stations and the number of beneficiaries.
He also questioned Tinubu’s planned campaign launch in Kaduna, demanding accountability for victims of military airstrikes, kidnappings and other security incidents in the state.
Shaibu said Atiku’s economic proposals would prioritise disciplined public spending, targeted household assistance and policies aimed at reducing production and transportation costs.
The campaign council urged the government to publish measurable targets and demonstrate how its proposed relief measures would benefit households beyond the election period.