Atiku’s ADC Campaign Council Criticizes Tinubu’s 90-Day Relief Plan as ‘Election Bait’

The presidential campaign council supporting Atiku Abubakar under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has formally challenged the federal government’s recently announced 90-day cost-of-living relief plan. During a press conference held on Friday, Phrank Shaibu, the council’s Director of Strategic Communication, characterized the initiative as “election bait,” arguing that the timing of the policy is designed to influence voters ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

Concerns Over Timing and Economic Record

With the presidential election scheduled for 86 days from the announcement, the ADC campaign council pointed out that the government’s proposed 90-day timeline extends beyond the date citizens head to the polls. Shaibu argued that the administration is asking families to rely on promises during the voting process, rather than demonstrating tangible results from the past three and a half years of governance.

The government’s relief plan focuses on five key pillars: food affordability, tax harmonisation, completion of infrastructure projects, removal of investment bottlenecks, and direct household support. However, the ADC council contends that these issues are long-standing challenges that should have been addressed earlier in the administration’s tenure, particularly regarding the rising costs of food, transport, and the struggles faced by manufacturers.

Demands for Transparency and Accountability

The campaign council has issued a series of demands for the government to provide specific details on how the five priorities will be executed. These include:

• Food Affordability: Clarification on how costs will be reduced for farmers and traders and how these reductions will be sustained beyond the 90-day window.
• Tax and Projects: Publication of specific tax harmonisation measures and a definitive list of projects slated for completion.
• Household Support: Disclosure of eligibility criteria, payment amounts, funding sources, and the long-term plan for beneficiaries once the initiative concludes.

Additionally, the council raised concerns regarding a registration form circulating under the name “Arise for Tinubu 2027,” which reportedly requests sensitive information including voter identification, bank details, and phone numbers. Shaibu questioned the legitimacy of this data collection and whether it is being used to facilitate the government’s household support program.

Fuel Subsidy and Retail Pricing

The council also scrutinized claims regarding fuel price relief. Shaibu reported that despite an announcement of a discount promotion by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) on October 1, he was unable to access discounted fuel at retail stations, ultimately paying ₦1,405 per litre. He has called on the NNPC to release data regarding the promotion, including the number of beneficiaries and the volume of fuel sold at reduced rates, noting that the company’s limited number of retail stations may restrict the reach of such initiatives.

Critique of Campaign Strategy

Beyond economic policy, the ADC campaign council criticized President Tinubu’s planned re-election campaign launch in Kaduna. Shaibu cited the state’s history of insecurity, including the 2023 Tudun Biri military drone strike and various abduction incidents, challenging the President to account for the administration’s response to these tragedies. As of the time of the press conference, the government had not provided detailed responses to these specific allegations or the demands for implementation data.

Conclusion

The ADC campaign council maintains that economic policies should be evaluated based on their impact on household purchasing power rather than pre-election announcements. They have urged Nigerians to demand concrete evidence that the promised relief will be both effective and sustainable, rather than a temporary measure tied to the electoral cycle.

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p class=”vbna-source-note”>Source: Channels Television

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