Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 general election, made the remarks on Friday during the inauguration of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
He used the occasion to outline his economic proposals, criticise the Tinubu administration’s handling of the economy and call on Nigerians to vote the president out of office in the January 2027 election.
According to Atiku, Nigerians have continued to face economic difficulties despite the government’s reform policies, with households and businesses struggling to cope with rising expenses.
“Bola Tinubu has had more than three years to improve our lives. What has he given us? A bag of food that costs more each time we go to the market. A journey to work that eats up our salaries. A business that cannot keep its lights on. A farm we may be too afraid to visit,” Atiku said.
Atiku Questions Sustainability of Tinubu’s 30-Day Fuel Discount
The former vice president argued that the proposed petrol discount was a temporary intervention that would not address the underlying causes of Nigeria’s economic hardship.
He questioned what would happen after the 30-day relief period expires, particularly for commuters, farmers, traders, manufacturers and other Nigerians whose daily activities depend on affordable fuel.
Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of demanding painful economic sacrifices from citizens without providing sufficient relief from the consequences of its policies.
He also argued that the government should explain how the proposed intervention would produce lasting benefits rather than offer temporary assistance ahead of the 2027 general election.
“More importantly, you owe Nigerians an answer: what happens on day 31?” he asked.
Atiku Proposes Subsidy for Locally Refined Petrol
Atiku also accused the Tinubu administration of adopting an idea he had previously proposed regarding production subsidies for petroleum products, while arguing that the government's approach lacked the long-term benefits he envisioned.
He explained that his proposed policy would provide targeted support for petroleum products refined within Nigeria and sold to Nigerians.
Under his proposal, the intervention would be limited in scope, included in the national budget and subjected to independent audits to ensure transparency and accountability.
“My production subsidy proposal is a lasting, targeted plan. Yours is a temporary palliative dressed up as a solution,” he said.
Atiku maintained that supporting locally refined petroleum products could strengthen domestic refining capacity, reduce dependence on imported finished fuel and ease the impact of energy costs on transportation, agriculture and businesses.
He called for the publication of the intervention's cost and the savings it would generate for Nigerians. He also proposed excluding imported finished petroleum products from the scheme.
According to him, the policy should support domestic production while ensuring that public funds are properly monitored.
ADC Candidate Outlines Economic Recovery Agenda
Beyond fuel prices, Atiku said his economic agenda would focus on improving living standards, making food more affordable, restoring reliable electricity, creating employment opportunities and improving security on roads and farmlands.
He also identified access to finance for young entrepreneurs as an important part of efforts to stimulate economic growth and expand opportunities for Nigerians.
The ADC candidate argued that economic policies should be judged by their impact on ordinary citizens rather than government statements or economic growth figures alone.
He urged members of the campaign council to take the party's proposals to markets, motor parks, farms, campuses and communities across the country.
Atiku said the campaign must explain not only what the party intends to achieve but also how its proposed programmes would be financed.
Describing the 2027 election as a rescue mission, he urged eligible Nigerians to participate in the electoral process and use their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to express their political choices.
“Another four years of Bola Tinubu means another four years of hunger, hardship and national decline,” he said.
Atiku Calls for Electoral Transparency Ahead of 2027
The ADC presidential candidate also called for reforms to improve the transparency and credibility of the 2027 general election.
He argued that efforts to rebuild the economy would be undermined if Nigerians could not trust the electoral process.
Among his proposals were the immediate publication of polling-unit results, independent verification of election results by political parties and observers, and live broadcasts of state and national collation proceedings.
He also called for independent audits of electoral technology before and after elections and the establishment of an independent commission to investigate and prosecute electoral offences.
Atiku said accredited party agents, civil society organisations and election observers should be allowed to operate situation rooms to monitor and verify results without replacing the statutory responsibilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Transparency is not a crime,” he said, adding that electoral technology should serve voters rather than obscure the electoral process.
He further expressed concern about alleged attempts to restrict opposition parties from campaigning in certain parts of the country, citing an alleged attempt to prevent an opposition candidate from campaigning in Benue State.
Atiku said the ADC would campaign nationwide and challenge any restrictions on its candidates through lawful means.
ADC Campaign Chairman Cites Inflation, Debt and Insecurity
Earlier, the Chairman of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, described the inauguration as the beginning of a campaign aimed at addressing economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and the rising cost of living.
He urged members of the council to regard their appointments as a responsibility to Nigerians rather than an opportunity to occupy political positions.
“Let no one mistake this gathering for a ceremony. We have not come here to collect titles. We have come here to begin a rescue,” he said.
Mr Ibrahim-Imam cited food inflation, rising public debt, insecurity and unemployment as evidence of what he described as the failures of the Tinubu administration.
He referred to figures he attributed to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which put food inflation in Adamawa State at 38.85 per cent in August 2026, followed by Zamfara State at 37.96 per cent and Bayelsa State at 36.20 per cent.
The campaign chairman said the figures illustrated the pressure on households, particularly in communities where residents struggle to afford food despite the country's agricultural resources.
He also criticised the increase in Nigeria's public debt, claiming that the country's total debt had risen from ₦87.38 trillion when Tinubu assumed office to ₦166.79 trillion as of June 30, 2026.
Mr Ibrahim-Imam questioned whether government borrowing and economic policies had delivered sufficient improvements in the living conditions of Nigerians.
He also cited killings, kidnappings and attacks on schools as security concerns that should influence voters' assessment of the administration.
The chairman urged campaign council members to mobilise voters nationwide and ensure that polling-unit results were protected and accurately counted.
He contrasted Tinubu's 2022 campaign slogan, “Emilokan”, commonly translated as “it is my turn”, with “Awalokan”, which he presented as a call for ordinary Nigerians to have their turn.
“The Council is inaugurated today. The work begins tonight,” he said.
Austin Akobundu Promises Issue-Based ADC Campaign
The Director-General of the ADC/Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Council, Austin Akobundu, said the party's campaign would focus on the everyday challenges confronting Nigerians rather than abstract economic indicators.
Mr Akobundu, who represents Abia Central Senatorial District, said the campaign would address the difficulties families face in paying for food, transportation, rent, school fees and healthcare.
“This is not a ceremonial role. It is a call to lead a campaign for Nigerians who are asking a simple question: How can I afford to live?” he said.
He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of asking Nigerians to endure economic hardship without delivering the expected relief.
Mr Akobundu said the ADC would present Atiku as an alternative, with affordability, domestic production, job creation and social welfare forming key elements of its proposed agenda.
He also warned against what he described as intimidation and harassment of ADC members by government agencies and political opponents, pledging that the party would defend its members' political rights through lawful means.
The campaign director-general further criticised the reported detention of the campaign council's Deputy Chairman, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. He described the development as an affront to the rule of law, although details of the circumstances and legal basis of the reported detention were not provided in his speech.
ADC Promises Education, Agriculture and Electricity Reforms
Mr Akobundu outlined several policy proposals that the party intends to pursue if Atiku wins the 2027 presidential election.
On petroleum, he said an ADC government would introduce a targeted production subsidy for fuel refined in Nigeria from the first day of its administration, with the stated objective of supporting local refining and reducing dependence on imported finished petroleum products.
On education, he promised to review the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), pursue student debt forgiveness and make education more accessible and affordable.
For agriculture, the campaign director-general said the party would prioritise security on farmlands, expand access to credit, reopen land borders for legitimate cross-border trade and encourage local processing to improve food availability.
He also promised reforms aimed at improving electricity supply and affordability, alongside expanded financing opportunities for young people and women seeking to establish or grow businesses.
Other proposals included restoring the operational capacity of the eastern maritime port corridor to reduce freight costs and improve access to international markets.
Mr Akobundu further identified local government autonomy, a review of the division of legislative powers between federal and state governments, improved healthcare and timely implementation of annual budgets as areas the proposed ADC administration would address.
He said the campaign would focus on persuading voters through policy proposals and practical solutions rather than political rhetoric.
“We will campaign lawfully and relentlessly. We will listen to Nigerians, persuade them with a clear plan and defend their right to choose their future,” he said.
The campaign director-general expressed confidence that Atiku would win the 2027 presidential election and become Nigeria's next president.
Atiku Calls on Tinubu to Step Down
Atiku concluded his address by insisting that a 30-day petrol discount could not erase the economic difficulties Nigerians had experienced during Tinubu's presidency.
He called on the president to take responsibility for the effects of his administration's policies and urged Nigerians to assess the government's record ahead of the next general election.
“Bola, thirty days cannot erase three and a half years of hardship. Nigerians have heard your excuses and endured your failed promises,” he said.
He added that Nigerians deserved a government capable of improving living standards and making essential goods and services more affordable.
The ADC's campaign inauguration marks the beginning of its mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the party placing economic recovery, domestic production, electoral transparency, security and social welfare at the centre of its campaign message.
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