Politics
Tinubu Blames Opposition for Hunger and Poverty at APC Campaign Flag-Off in Kaduna
President Bola Tinubu has accused opposition politicians of creating the hunger and poverty they now criticise his administration over, defending his economic policies while promising prosperity if Nigerians re-elect him in 2027.
Tinubu made the remarks on Saturday, October 24, at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign flag-off rally in Kaduna, where he appealed to voters to renew his mandate for a second term.
“I hear my opponents talking about hunger and poverty. Who created it? They did. They created hunger. They created poverty. We are trying to eradicate it,” the President said.
Addressing supporters, Tinubu presented his administration as offering economic recovery, growth and opportunities, while accusing opposition parties of criticising the government without providing credible alternatives.
The remarks place the cost of living and responsibility for Nigeria’s economic difficulties at the centre of the APC’s campaign message ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Tinubu Promises Prosperity in Second Term
The President urged Nigerians, particularly young people, to support his bid for another four years, promising that they would not regret giving him a second term.
“To you, the children of our country, it’s a promise of second-time prosperity; you will not regret it,” he said.
Tinubu also praised APC governors, saying they were working to develop their states and pay workers’ salaries regularly.
He called on party supporters to mobilise voters and ensure they had their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the election.
The President urged voters to support APC candidates not only for the presidency but also for governorships, the Senate, the House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly.
He described his administration’s agenda in terms of prosperity, consistency, growth, economic recovery and opportunity, arguing that continuity would allow the government to consolidate its policies.
President Defends Economic Reforms
Tinubu’s comments came as his administration continues to defend major economic policy changes introduced since taking office in May 2023.
Among the most consequential decisions were the removal of the petrol subsidy and reforms to the foreign-exchange system. The government has argued that these measures were necessary to reduce fiscal pressures, improve economic efficiency and create conditions for longer-term growth.
However, the changes have also contributed to intense public debate about petrol prices, transport costs, food affordability, household purchasing power and the pace at which economic benefits are reaching ordinary Nigerians.
At the Kaduna rally, Tinubu said the petrol subsidy was now in the past and linked his administration’s approach to tackling corruption, invoice falsification and the smuggling of wealth.
The President’s remarks presented the reforms as a necessary break with previous practices. But the broader debate remains centred on whether the changes can deliver sustained improvements in living standards and how quickly households will experience those benefits.
Opposition Blamed for Hardship
Tinubu’s assertion that opposition politicians created hunger and poverty was a political accusation made during a campaign rally.
He did not, in the remarks reported, provide a detailed breakdown identifying which opposition policies or decisions he considered responsible for the hardship.
Nigeria’s economic difficulties have developed over many years and involve multiple factors, including inflation, exchange-rate movements, fuel costs, food production and distribution, insecurity affecting farming communities, infrastructure constraints and the wider fiscal position.
The administration’s policies have altered the economic environment, but assessing responsibility for hardship requires examining specific policies, economic indicators and the effects on households over time.
Opposition politicians have criticised the government’s handling of the cost of living and have proposed alternative approaches to economic policy. Their criticisms, like the President’s defence of his record, need to be assessed against evidence and the details of their respective proposals.
The Kaduna speech did not resolve those competing arguments. Instead, Tinubu used the rally to challenge the opposition’s criticism and urge voters to judge his government on the promise of future prosperity.
Hunger and Poverty Remain Central Campaign Issues
The emphasis on hunger and poverty reflects the importance of household economic conditions in the 2027 election debate.
For many voters, the relevant questions extend beyond headline economic growth figures. They include whether wages can cover essential expenses, whether food and transport are affordable, whether businesses can sustain jobs and whether families can access reliable electricity, education and healthcare.
Tinubu’s promise of prosperity in a second term places responsibility on his administration to demonstrate how its policies will translate into measurable improvements in these areas.
It also gives voters a basis for evaluating the government’s record: the performance of prices and wages, employment opportunities, household purchasing power, public services and the availability of essential goods.
The opposition faces a corresponding challenge to explain how its proposals would address these concerns, including the costs, implementation arrangements and expected effects of any alternative policies.
Kaduna Rally Opens Another Phase of APC Mobilisation
The Kaduna event forms part of the APC’s mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election, with Tinubu seeking a renewed mandate after his first term began in May 2023.
The President urged supporters to turn out for the election and back APC candidates across different levels of government.
He also thanked Kaduna residents for their previous electoral support and appealed for another opportunity to continue his administration’s agenda.
The rally’s central message was that the government’s economic reforms should be judged by the prosperity it says they can deliver, rather than by the hardship that has accompanied the transition.
Whether that argument resonates with voters will depend partly on their experiences of the economy and the credibility of the competing parties’ explanations and proposals.
For now, Tinubu has made clear that his campaign intends to contest the opposition’s criticism directly, arguing that the parties now highlighting hunger and poverty bear responsibility for creating those problems.
The coming campaign period is likely to see further debate over the origins of Nigeria’s economic hardship, the distribution of the costs of reform and the policies that could produce more affordable living conditions.
A coalition of Ogoni youth groups has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to implement the recommendations of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, insisting that the creation of Bori State must be given priority in the process.
The Coalition of Ogoni Youth Groups (COYOG) made the demand in a statement jointly signed by 17 youth leaders, including Chief Kpakol Kpakol of the Ogoni National Youth Congress and Gen. Ikeh Albert Jnr of the Khana Youth Assembly, on Saturday.
The coalition warned against attempts by politicians and other vested interests to hijack the dialogue process for personal or political gains, stressing that its outcomes must reflect the collective aspirations of the Ogoni people.
It described the dialogue as a collective struggle for justice, environmental restoration, political inclusion, resource control and sustainable development.
On the leadership of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, COYOG clarified that Professor Don Baridam remains its substantive leader, warning against attempts by individuals to assume authority outside the established structure.
Reaffirming its commitment to peaceful advocacy, the coalition insisted that the dialogue process must remain inclusive and accountable, adding that its recommendations should translate into measurable benefits for the Ogoni people.
“The Ogoni dialogue belongs to the Ogoni people. Its outcomes must serve the Ogoni people. Its implementation must be transparent, inclusive and measurable,” the statement added.
Former member of the House of Representatives, Dachung Bagos, has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) rerun primary election for the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency of Plateau State.
Bagos defeated his challenger, Esther Simi Dusu, in the rerun exercise conducted across 11 wards on Wednesday, following a court order nullifying the previous primary election over alleged irregularities.
The Chairman of the APC Rerun Electoral Committee, Simon Elisha, announced the results on Thursday at the party’s state secretariat, Kalwa House, in Jos.
According to the results, Bagos polled 12,181 votes to defeat Dusu, who secured 2,495 votes.
Elisha said the rerun election was conducted in compliance with the court order and in accordance with the party’s guidelines.
“The rerun was conducted in compliance with the court order and in line with the party’s guidelines to ensure transparency and fairness,” he said.
The rerun followed a decision by the High Court in Jos to nullify the earlier primary election over alleged irregularities in 11 wards within the federal constituency.
The affected wards are Du, Shen, Zawan ‘B’, Turu, Fobur ‘A’, Fobur ‘B’, Jarawan Kogi, Maijuju/Doss, Federe, Shere East and Shere West.
The court-ordered exercise was organised to address the irregularities identified in the previous primary election and determine the party’s candidate for the constituency.
With his victory, Bagos is set to represent the APC in the contest for the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 general election.
Bagos previously represented the constituency in the House of Representatives.
His emergence as the party’s candidate places him in contention for another term in the Green Chamber, subject to the outcome of the 2027 general election.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has warned individuals he accused of terrorising Nigerians, declaring that his party would confront insecurity and intimidation if elected in 2027.
“Those who think they can terrorize this country, wait, we’re coming,” Obi said during the opening of the NDC’s national secretariat in Jabi, Abuja, on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The remark came as the party formally opened its national headquarters and intensified preparations for the 2027 general elections. The event brought together Obi, his running mate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, NDC leaders and other party members.
Obi Puts Insecurity at the Centre of His Message
Obi’s statement signals that security is expected to feature prominently in the NDC’s campaign messaging ahead of the next presidential election.
Nigeria continues to face multiple security challenges, including insurgency, kidnapping, armed attacks and communal violence in different parts of the country. These problems have affected communities, disrupted economic activities and generated demands for stronger protection of lives and property.
At the Abuja event, Obi presented his political project as an effort to change how government responds to the country’s challenges. Reports of his remarks also highlighted commitments to address corruption, poverty, unemployment and insecurity.
However, the brief statement quoted above did not identify a particular group or individual as the target of his warning. It would therefore be premature to attribute the remark to a specific organisation or political opponent without further evidence.
NDC Opens National Headquarters Ahead of 2027
The secretariat opening marked another organisational step for the NDC as it builds its structures ahead of the elections.
The ceremony followed the party’s National Executive Committee meeting and formed part of a wider programme that included unveiling its National Campaign Council and presenting Certificates of Return to candidates contesting different offices.
Kwankwaso, the party’s vice-presidential candidate, attended alongside National Leader Seriake Dickson, National Chairman Moses Cleopas and other party figures.
The new facility is expected to serve as the party’s administrative headquarters and a centre for coordinating its national political activities.
Security and Accountability in the 2027 Campaign
Obi’s warning comes as political parties begin defining their messages for the 2027 election, with security, economic hardship and public accountability among the issues likely to feature prominently.
For voters, the significance of security promises will depend not only on campaign statements but also on the policies, resources and implementation plans candidates present.
Measures to improve security can involve intelligence gathering, police and military capacity, coordination between federal and state authorities, criminal investigations, justice delivery and support for communities affected by violence.
Obi’s statement did not set out specific measures in the quoted passage. Further policy details would be needed to assess how the NDC proposes to address the different forms of insecurity affecting the country.
The remark nevertheless makes clear that the party intends to present security and protection from intimidation as part of its campaign message.
As the 2027 election approaches, the challenge for all political parties will be to explain how their proposals would be implemented and how progress would be measured.
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