2027: Atiku Challenges Tinubu Over Failed Electricity Promise
By Akin Alade
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has intensified his criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to divert public attention from the administration’s alleged failure to deliver stable and affordable electricity to Nigerians.
Atiku maintained that the approaching 2027 presidential election should provide Nigerians with an opportunity to examine the government’s performance against the promises made during the 2023 election campaign, particularly in the power sector.
The former Vice President, through a statement issued by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, questioned the justification for another term when millions of households and businesses continue to experience unreliable electricity supply.
He argued that government announcements, legislative reforms, financial interventions and infrastructure proposals should not be presented as achievements without corresponding improvements in electricity availability.
According to the opposition presidential candidate, Nigerians are more interested in having dependable electricity in their homes, shops and industries than listening to explanations about policies whose benefits have yet to become evident in their daily lives.
Atiku’s criticism followed efforts by the APC Presidential Campaign Council to defend Tinubu’s record in the electricity sector, including explanations offered by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake.
The ADC campaign organisation insisted that the central issue was not the number of initiatives announced by the government but whether ordinary Nigerians were receiving the electricity they had been promised.
The opposition party recalled Tinubu’s campaign commitment that Nigerians should reject his second-term ambition if he failed to provide constant electricity during his first tenure.
It argued that the statement created a clear political benchmark against which the President’s performance should be assessed.
Atiku further expressed concern over electricity tariffs, particularly the classification of consumers into Bands A, B, C, D and E, which attract different charges depending on their expected hours of supply.
The ADC campaign council noted that some Band A consumers pay approximately N209.50 per kilowatt-hour before Value Added Tax, while consumers in other categories face varying tariffs.
It alleged that the tariff structure had increased financial pressure on households and businesses without guaranteeing consistent electricity supply.
The opposition presidential candidate also questioned the continued burden of estimated billing, arguing that electricity consumers should not be compelled to pay charges that do not accurately reflect their consumption.
He maintained that electricity affordability and reliability should be treated as essential economic priorities rather than political talking points.
The ADC presidential candidate further criticised the government’s proposed financial interventions to address outstanding debts in the electricity sector.
While acknowledging that settling legacy obligations could form part of broader sector reforms, his campaign argued that financial arrangements alone would not automatically translate into improved electricity generation and distribution.
Atiku’s campaign also raised concerns about the potential implications of the government’s reported plan to end electricity subsidies from 2027.
It demanded greater clarity on how such a policy would affect consumer bills, particularly at a time when many Nigerians are struggling with the cost of living.
The former Vice President promised that, if elected, his administration would collaborate with state governments, electricity regulators and other relevant institutions to review the existing tariff classification system.
He proposed replacing the current electricity band structure with a more transparent and affordable framework that would protect consumers while holding electricity companies accountable for the services they provide.
Beyond the electricity controversy, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council raised concerns about what it described as increasing political intolerance ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a separate statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the campaign organisation alleged that opposition political parties and their supporters were facing intimidation, harassment and restrictions on political activities.
The council cited reported incidents involving opposition figures in Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi and Enugu states as examples of developments it believed could undermine democratic participation.
It specifically referenced the reported attack on its Sokoto State governorship candidate, Munir Dan Iya, and the alleged demolition of its campaign office in Kebbi State.
The council also raised concerns over reported restrictions affecting other opposition political actors, insisting that freedom of association and political participation must be protected regardless of party affiliation.
These allegations remain claims by the opposition campaign organisation and should not be treated as independently established findings.
The ADC maintained that Nigeria’s democracy must allow political competition without intimidation, warning that attempts to weaken opposition activities could damage public confidence in the electoral process.
The latest exchange between Atiku’s campaign organisation and the APC reflects the growing importance of economic performance, electricity supply and governance accountability in the political debate ahead of 2027.
For many Nigerians, electricity remains directly connected to the cost of doing business, employment opportunities, industrial productivity and household welfare.
Small businesses that depend on generators face additional operating expenses, while manufacturers and service providers require reliable power to remain competitive.
Although the Tinubu administration has defended its broader reform agenda as necessary for long-term economic stability, the opposition insists that such reforms must ultimately be measured by their impact on citizens.
The dispute has therefore brought a fundamental question into sharper focus: should political leaders be judged primarily by reforms initiated, or by measurable improvements in the living conditions of the people?
As political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 presidential election, electricity supply is emerging as a major test of competing claims about leadership, economic management and the credibility of campaign promises.
For Atiku and the ADC, the argument is that Nigerians deserve practical results rather than explanations. For the ruling APC, the challenge will be to demonstrate how its electricity-sector policies and investments are translating into meaningful improvements.
Ultimately, voters will have to determine whether the administration’s record justifies another mandate or whether the opposition has presented a more convincing alternative for addressing Nigeria’s persistent electricity challenges.
