African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential hopeful Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu's electricity record, criticising ongoing nationwide power outages and proposing an overhaul of the existing tariff-band system. The critique follows defences raised by the ruling All Progressives Congress regarding the administration's power sector interventions ahead of the 2027 elections.
Atiku's remarks came after the APC defended President Tinubu's 2023 campaign promises on reliable electricity and estimated billing, citing legislative frameworks such as the Electricity Act 2023, infrastructure investments, and metering programmes. Rejecting these defences through his campaign structure, Atiku argued that households and businesses continue to suffer despite government paperwork and urged for a pricing model tied directly to power delivered rather than estimated hours.
How are political rivals responding to the campaign landscape?
Amidst the policy debates, Nigeria Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso publicly advised Atiku to withdraw from the presidential race. Speaking in Kano, Kwankwaso argued that the presidency should remain in the South in alignment with informal rotation principles designed to foster national cohesion, thereby raising questions about the viability of a northern opposition ticket.
Simultaneously, the ADC has faced internal friction regarding campaign preparations. Regional officials in the South-west expressed concerns over alleged sidelining in campaign mobilisation structures prior to the party's scheduled campaign flag-off in Sokoto. Campaign representatives maintained that state councils had not yet been formally inaugurated, asserting that all party stakeholders would be integrated into the final operational framework.
What legal and logistical challenges face the electoral preparations?
Electoral preparations have also encountered legal hurdles across various states. In Kano, court-related restraining orders led to the temporary omission of specific opposition candidates from updated Independent National Electoral Commission lists, while legal disputes prompted court-ordered primaries in regions such as Zamfara North. Meanwhile, grassroots political movements continued receiving logistical support, including campaign vehicle donations and humanitarian relief distributions associated with various political figures and government initiatives.