2027: ADC Challenges Shettima Over Tinubu’s Economic Record

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council, ADC-PCC, has criticised Vice President Kashim Shettima over his claim that President Bola Tinubu rescued Nigeria from economic collapse.

The council argued that the All Progressives Congress, APC, cannot distance itself from the record of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, which governed Nigeria for eight years before Tinubu assumed office.

The ADC-PCC Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, made the position known in a statement on Sunday.

Ologbondiyan said Shettima’s assertion that Nigeria was heading towards a “Caracas” situation before Tinubu became president amounted to an indictment of the Buhari administration and the APC.

He argued that if the country was indeed approaching economic collapse under Buhari, the APC should accept responsibility for the conditions that existed during its eight years in power.

According to him, Tinubu had previously defended the Buhari administration and promised to build on its achievements, making it difficult for the present administration to separate itself from the party’s past record.

The ADC spokesman also accused the Tinubu administration of failing to adequately address challenges in areas including infrastructure, electricity, public institutions and the rising cost of living.

He said the immediate concern of Nigerians remained access to affordable food and basic necessities, rather than political narratives.

Ologbondiyan further criticised the government’s economic policies, alleging that Nigerians were facing increased hardship, inflation, naira depreciation, unemployment and insecurity.

He also questioned the Vice President’s promise to deploy 10,600 electric tricycles, 300 buses and electric taxis under an e-logistics programme, recalling an earlier promise that transportation costs would decline by October 1, 2026.

The ADC campaign council urged the APC-led administration to focus on addressing the challenges confronting Nigerians rather than attempting to distance itself from its previous record.

The council said the ADC remained committed to offering an alternative political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.