Atiku’s Camp Dismisses Tinubu’s Relief Plan

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign council under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described President Bola Tinubu’s 90-day cost-of-living relief plan as “election bait”, questioning its timing and demanding details of how the measures will benefit Nigerians.

The council’s Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, stated the position on Friday during a press conference at the party’s secretariat.

Shaibu argued that with the presidential election 86 days away, the government’s 90-day timeline would extend beyond election day, leaving Nigerians to wait for relief until after casting their ballots.

“After three and a half years of hardship, this government is asking families to carry another promise into the polling booth and wait for relief until the votes are counted,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to judge the Tinubu administration by its economic record rather than promises announced ahead of the election.

The Nigerian Government’s plan identifies five priorities: improving food affordability, harmonising taxes, completing key projects, removing investment bottlenecks and providing household support.

However, Shaibu described these as longstanding challenges that the administration should have addressed earlier. He cited rising food and transport costs, increasing pressure on manufacturers and business closures.

He also criticised the administration’s handling of petrol subsidy removal, arguing that measures to protect vulnerable households should have accompanied the reform.

According to him, the government imposed the policy’s immediate costs on Nigerians while asking them to wait for its benefits.

“A government cannot put a 90-day deadline on hunger, the cost-of-living crisis and insecurity and call it an economic policy,” Shaibu said.

ADC Questions Tinubu’s Kaduna Campaign Visit

The ADC campaign official also questioned Tinubu’s planned visit to Kaduna to launch his re-election campaign, citing the state’s experience with civilian casualties from military airstrikes, abductions, insecurity and natural disasters.

Shaibu recalled the December 3, 2023, military drone strike on civilians attending a Maulud celebration in Tudun Biri, which killed at least 85 people.

He also cited a reported military airstrike in Giwa in September 2024 that allegedly killed at least 24 civilians.

Additionally, he referred to a September 2025 incident involving kidnappings in Kachia, as well as storms and flooding that affected communities across Kaduna State.

Shaibu challenged the President to explain what his administration had done for victims of the incidents and what measures it had introduced to protect residents from abductions.

Atiku’s Camp Questions NNPC Fuel Discount

Shaibu also questioned claims of fuel-price relief through a discount promotion introduced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) on October 1.

He said he visited NNPC retail stations but was told that no discount was available. He added that he subsequently bought petrol at ₦1,405 per litre.

The ADC official called on the company to publish details of the promotion, including the number of motorists who benefited, the participating stations and the volume of petrol sold at discounted prices.

He also questioned the reach of a reported ₦66-per-litre discount, noting that NNPC operates about 900 retail stations in a country with thousands of fuel outlets.

ADC Demands Details Of 90-Day Relief Plan

Turning to the proposed relief plan, Shaibu demanded specific details on how the government intends to implement each of its five priorities.

On food affordability, he asked which costs would be reduced for farmers, transporters and traders, when consumers would see lower market prices, and how any reductions would be sustained beyond the 90-day period.

He also called for the publication of the proposed tax harmonisation measures and a list of projects scheduled for completion within 90 days.

On investment and industrial development, Shaibu demanded an explanation of how the government intends to remove barriers affecting manufacturers and investors.

For the household support programme, he requested details on eligibility criteria, payment amounts, commencement dates, funding arrangements, and plans for beneficiaries after the initiative expires.

Shaibu Raises Concerns Over Registration Form

The ADC campaign official also raised concerns about a registration form circulating under the name “Arise for Tinubu 2027”.

According to him, the form requested voter identification, bank details and phone numbers.

Shaibu asked who was collecting the information, how it would be used and whether the exercise was connected to the proposed household support programme.

He insisted that Nigerians should not have to surrender sensitive personal information to a political group to access public relief.

He urged the government to explain how it would prevent the misuse of personal data and ensure that public assistance was not used for political purposes.

Atiku Promises Alternative Economic Approach

Shaibu said Atiku had pledged to make Nigeria more affordable through disciplined public spending, targeted household assistance, lower costs of producing and transporting essential goods, and policies to help local manufacturers expand and create jobs.

He argued that economic policies should be judged by their impact on household purchasing power, not by government announcements.

The ADC campaign council urged Nigerians to demand evidence that the promised relief would reach households and remain effective beyond the election period.