Atiku’s Campaign Council Labels Tinubu’s 90-Day Relief Plan “Election Bait”, Demands Details

• Atiku’s ADC campaign council has questioned the timing of Tinubu’s 90-day relief plan, demanding clear details on food prices, household support and implementation.

The African Democratic Congress presidential campaign council for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s 90-day cost-of-living relief plan as “election bait”, questioning its timing and demanding evidence that Nigerians will benefit.

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

Shaibu argued that, with the presidential election 86 days away, the government’s proposed implementation period would extend beyond polling day.

“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 voters to assess the administration’s economic record rather than rely on promises announced ahead of the election.

The government’s plan identifies five priorities: improving food affordability, harmonising taxes, completing key projects, removing investment bottlenecks and supporting households.

However, Shaibu argued that these were longstanding problems that required earlier intervention. He cited rising food and transportation costs, pressure on manufacturers and business closures.

He also criticised the handling of petrol subsidy removal, saying measures to protect vulnerable households should have accompanied the policy rather than follow the hardship it imposed.

“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.

The campaign official demanded specific implementation details for each priority under the relief programme.

On food affordability, he asked which expenses would be reduced for farmers, transporters and traders, when consumers would see lower prices and how any improvements would be sustained.

He also requested publication of the proposed tax harmonisation measures, the projects scheduled for completion within 90 days and the steps planned to remove obstacles facing manufacturers and investors.

For household support, Shaibu demanded disclosure of eligibility requirements, payment amounts, commencement dates, funding sources and arrangements for beneficiaries after the programme ends.

He separately questioned a registration form circulating under the name “Arise for Tinubu 2027”, which he said sought voter identification, bank details and telephone numbers.

Shaibu asked who was collecting the information, how it would be used and whether the exercise had any connection to the proposed household support initiative.

He maintained that access to publicly funded assistance should not require Nigerians to submit sensitive information to a political organisation.

The ADC official also challenged claims about a petrol discount promotion introduced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited on October 1.

He said he visited NNPC retail outlets but was told no discount was available, before purchasing petrol at ₦1,405 per litre.

Shaibu asked the company to publish the participating stations, the number of motorists who benefited and the volume of petrol sold at discounted prices.

He also questioned the reach of a reported ₦66-per-litre discount, noting that NNPC’s approximately 900 stations represented only part of the country’s fuel retail network.

Turning to Tinubu’s planned campaign launch in Kaduna, Shaibu asked the President to account for the administration’s response to civilian casualties, abductions and disasters in the state.

He cited the December 2023 Tudun Biri drone strike, a reported September 2024 airstrike in Giwa, kidnappings in Kachia and flooding affecting communities.

Shaibu challenged the administration to explain the assistance provided to victims and the measures introduced to protect residents.

Outlining Atiku’s proposed approach, he said the former vice-president had pledged disciplined public spending, targeted household assistance and lower production and transportation costs for essential goods.

He added that Atiku would support local manufacturers to expand production and create employment.

The campaign council urged Nigerians to demand measurable evidence that the government’s promised relief would improve household purchasing power and continue beyond the election period.