The [African Democratic Congress (ADC)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Democratic_Congress_(Nigeria)) Presidential Campaign Council has charged [President Bola Tinubu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bola_Tinubu) with using his newly announced 90‑day cost‑of‑living relief scheme as a political lure ahead of the 2027 presidential election, noting that the programme’s expiry falls after the vote.
**What does the ADC say about the timing?**
Phrank Shaibu, the ADC’s Director of Strategic Communication, told reporters that the election is 86 days away while the relief plan is set for 90 days. He argued that the arithmetic shows the programme will conclude after Nigerians have voted, turning a promised economic boost into an electoral tactic. “The arithmetic is plain: the plan ends after Nigerians have voted. 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,” Shaibu said.
**Which priorities does the plan claim to address?**
Shaibu listed five pillars: food affordability, tax harmonisation, completion of major projects, removal of investment bottlenecks and household support. He said these issues have been long‑standing and should have been tackled well before an election cycle.
**How does the ADC assess the fuel discount?**
The council also criticised the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC) petrol discount that began on 1 October. Shaibu visited several NNPC retail stations and reported that attendants told him no discount was being applied; he paid ₦1,405 per litre. “With barely a week left before the offer expires, my experience as a customer was simple: a promise of relief, and a higher price at the pump,” he remarked. He urged NNPC to disclose the number of beneficiaries, the stations where the ₦66‑per‑litre discount was available, and the total volume sold at the reduced price.
**Is there a voter‑registration drive linked to the relief?**
Shaibu warned that a form circulating under the title “Arise for Tinubu 2027” was asking for voter identification, bank details and phone numbers. He asked who was collecting this sensitive data, how it would be used, and whether it was tied to any publicly funded assistance.
**What about security concerns in Kaduna State?**
The ADC raised Tinubu’s record on security, recalling a December 3 2023 drone strike on civilians at a Maulud celebration in Tudun Biri that killed at least 85 people, a September 2024 airstrike in Giwa, abductions in Kajuru, a September 2025 kidnapping attack in Kachia, and recurring floods across the state. Shaibu questioned why the president had not visited the affected community while he is expected to launch his re‑election campaign in Kaduna.
**What details does the ADC demand on the economic plan?**
The council asked for a clear breakdown of how food prices will be reduced, taxes harmonised, projects completed, business constraints eased and household support delivered within the 90‑day window. It called for publication of eligibility criteria, budget allocations, payment mechanisms and the specific projects slated for completion.
**What alternative does the ADC propose?**
Shaibu noted that ADC presidential hopeful [Atiku Abubakar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atiku_Abubakar) has pledged disciplined public spending, targeted household relief, lower production and transport costs, and policies to help manufacturers expand and create jobs. He challenged Tinubu to prove that Nigerians are better off than they were in May 2023 and that the relief will still be effective on day 91 of the programme.
In summary, the ADC argues that the 90‑day relief plan is a politically timed promise rather than a sustainable economic policy, urging Nigerians not to trade three‑and‑a‑half years of hardship for short‑lived pledges tied to an upcoming election.