ADC Tackles Tinubu Over 2027 Manifesto, Says APC Recycling Failed Campaign Promises

The African Democratic Congress has accused President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress of recycling unfulfilled campaign promises in their newly unveiled 2027 manifesto, demanding that the President account for his administration’s performance before seeking re-election.

The opposition party described the manifesto as a fresh collection of promises that should have been fulfilled since the APC assumed power, arguing that the government was presenting itself as though it were seeking office for the first time.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC questioned why Nigerians should accept another set of commitments without an explanation of what happened to the promises made during the 2023 election.

The party cited healthcare coverage, information and communication technology job creation, and electricity generation as areas where it alleged that the Tinubu administration had fallen short of its targets.

“The fundamental question Nigerians must ask is simple: Why is a government campaigning on promises it should already have fulfilled? President Tinubu has been in office since May 2023. The APC has controlled the Federal Government for nearly twelve years. Yet, reading this manifesto, one would think they are only now discovering the problems they were elected to solve,” the statement said.

The ADC recalled that Tinubu had pledged during the 2023 campaign to extend health insurance coverage to 40 per cent of Nigerians within two years and create one million ICT jobs within 24 months.

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However, the party claimed that barely one in 10 Nigerians was covered by health insurance, while government figures showed that only about 15,000 jobs and opportunity pathways had been recorded.

It also alleged that the administration had shifted its health insurance coverage target to 2031, instead of meeting the original deadline.

On electricity, the ADC questioned the government’s performance, recalling that the APC had described 4,500 megawatts of power generation as inadequate in 2023, while its new manifesto reportedly acknowledged average generation of 4,022 megawatts.

“How does a government campaign to solve a crisis it has made remarkably worse?” the party queried.

The opposition party also faulted Tinubu’s proposed programme for his first 100 days after re-election, arguing that the President already had the constitutional and executive powers to implement the measures without waiting for another electoral victory.

“Most astonishingly, President Tinubu now promises a programme for his first 100 days after re-election, including measures he already possesses the executive powers to implement right now.

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“What exactly is stopping him from acting today? What stopped him from acting in 2023 when he came into office?” the ADC asked.

On the economy, the party accused the President of seeking another mandate without adequately addressing the hardship facing millions of Nigerians.

It claimed that poverty had risen to 63 per cent and that the N70,000 minimum wage had lost more than a quarter of its purchasing power.

“Yet, rather than account for the hardship he has inflicted on Nigerians and his long catalogue of failures across the economy and security sectors, the president and his party have the temerity to present another colourful brochure full of the same undelivered promises,” the statement added.

The ADC maintained that campaign promises should not be used as a substitute for accountability, insisting that Nigerians deserved a clear assessment of the administration’s achievements and failures.

“A manifesto is a promise of what a party will do. A record is evidence of what it has done. After eleven years, the APC cannot keep presenting promises as a substitute for performance,” it declared.

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The party consequently challenged Tinubu to publish a comprehensive account of his 2023 campaign promises, stating which commitments had been fulfilled, which remained outstanding and the reasons for missed deadlines.

It also urged the administration to explain why some targets had been shifted rather than repackaging previous commitments in its 2027 manifesto.

The ADC said the 2027 general election should be a referendum on Tinubu’s performance since assuming office in May 2023, rather than an opportunity for the President to present his administration as a fresh government.

“The President must understand that 2027 is first a referendum on his abysmal record since 2023, not an opportunity to pretend that his presidency is just about to begin. Nigeria needs a change of government, not another change of slogans,” the party declared.

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