The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has stated that President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) has no achievements to campaign with ahead of the 2027 general elections.
NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, challenged the president to focus on addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges rather than blaming his political opponents for the hardship faced by Nigerians.
Director spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief in response to Tinubu’s remarks at the APC presidential campaign flag-off rally in Kaduna on Saturday.
The NDC spokesman questioned whether the President was suggesting that hunger began only after his administration took office in 2023.
“Is he saying that the hunger started in the last three years? Because he was also the person who said that hunger has always been with us,” he said.
Director argued that the responsibility of addressing hunger and poverty rested with the government, regardless of who was responsible for creating the problems.
“Assuming, but not conceding, that the opposition created hunger, his business and responsibility is to eliminate hunger, because that is why he told Nigerians he’s ‘Emi Lokan’,” he said.
He added that Tinubu’s comments showed that the APC had little to present to Nigerians as it prepared for the 2027 elections.
“It has shown that the APC has no achievement to campaign with,” Director said.
Tinubu had blamed opposition parties for hunger and poverty in Nigeria while defending his administration’s efforts to address the challenges.
The president spoke on Saturday at the APC presidential campaign flag-off rally at Ranchers Bees Stadium, also known as Kaduna Township Stadium, in Kaduna State.
“I have an argument. I hear my opponent talking about hunger, poverty. Who created it? They did! They created the hunger, they created the poverty. We are trying to eradicate it,” Tinubu said.
He also defended his administration’s record on salary payments and praised state governors for what he described as their performance.
“We pay salaries regularly. Our governors are working. I am proud of them. They are developing,” he said.
Tinubu thanked Kaduna residents for supporting him during the previous presidential election, saying their votes contributed to his emergence as president.
“You gave me joy to remember the victory you gave me to become president. I come again to thank you,” he said.
The president appealed to Nigerians to support his bid for another term, promising to sustain his agenda of prosperity, continuity, progress and development.
In another development, former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner Mike Igini has warned that many people currently holding public office should face criminal prosecution.
Igini made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he described the 2027 general elections as a major test for Nigeria’s democracy.
“The 2027 general elections will be more than a test. INEC will be judged, and officials [and] judiciary will be judged. More importantly, the politicians who are seeking political office will be judged. Most of the characters you see today in public offices are supposed to be candidates for prison,” he said.
He expressed concern that Nigeria was increasingly being governed by individuals rather than the rule of law, alleging that laws were no longer being enforced as they should.
Igini also raised concerns about Section 97 of the Electoral Act, which he said protects candidates from being compelled to support a political party. He alleged that the provision was being violated.
“They want to end Nigeria. They are putting out light on democracy. Where were they when we were fighting for democracy in this country?” he asked.
The former electoral commissioner further alleged that politicians had infiltrated National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) lists to manipulate elections by inserting fake corps members as ad hoc election staff.
He maintained that Nigeria could not resolve its economic challenges without addressing problems in its political system, arguing that development was closely linked to the country’s political processes.