As political activities gather momentum ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election, President Bola Tinubu’s campaign promises are coming under renewed scrutiny, with opposition figures and some Nigerians accusing his administration of failing to deliver on key commitments made before the 2023 election.
Tinubu came into office on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the Renewed Hope Agenda, promising to address insecurity, revive the economy, create employment opportunities, improve electricity supply, reduce poverty and raise the standard of living across the country.
While the President and members of his administration maintain that their economic reforms have produced significant gains and laid the foundation for sustainable growth, opposition figures argue that the impact of the policies has been largely negative for ordinary Nigerians.
The Federal Government has also pointed to infrastructure projects, investment initiatives and social intervention programmes across the country as evidence that the administration is transforming the economy.
However, with the 2027 political season approaching, the administration’s record is once again becoming a major subject of public debate, particularly whether the reforms introduced since 2023 have translated into tangible improvements in the daily lives of Nigerians.
Critics have particularly faulted the removal of the petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira, arguing that both measures contributed to rising living costs and worsening economic hardship.
According to the IMF’s 2026 Article IV consultation, poverty reached 63% at the national poverty line, while economic conditions remain difficult for a significant proportion of Nigerians.
Tinubu’s 2022 promises
In 2022, Tinubu unveiled an 80-page policy document containing an eight-point agenda ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
The document outlined commitments covering employment, electricity, security, infrastructure, agriculture and other critical areas, with the promise of creating an environment capable of improving the welfare and economic prospects of Nigerians.
One of the central pledges was to create millions of jobs, particularly for young Nigerians, while stimulating growth across different sectors of the economy.
Although official statistics show changes in some economic indicators since Tinubu assumed office, opposition parties maintain that the figures do not adequately reflect the economic realities confronting households across the country.
Jobs and employment
Tinubu, while campaigning in 2022, pledged to “build a Nigeria, especially for our youth, where sufficient jobs with decent wages create a better life”.
He also promised to empower young people and women by “harnessing emerging sectors such as the digital economy, entertainment and culture, tourism and others to build the Nigeria of tomorrow, today”.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that Nigeria’s official unemployment rate, which stood at 5.3% in the fourth quarter of 2022, had fallen to between 4.3% and 4.9% in 2026.
Despite the decline in the official unemployment figure, opposition parties contend that unemployment and underemployment remain significant concerns, particularly among young Nigerians.
Electricity supply
Reliable and affordable electricity was another major component of Tinubu’s 2022 campaign promises.
In his manifesto, he pledged to “generate, transmit and distribute sufficient, affordable electricity to give our people the requisite power to enlighten their lives, their homes, and their very dreams”.
During the campaign, Tinubu also challenged Nigerians not to support his bid for a second term if his administration failed to provide constant electricity.
In a video clip that continues to circulate online, the President told supporters that a promise made must be kept.
He said, “by all means necessary, you must have electricity and you will not pay for an estimated bill anymore. If I don’t keep the promise and I come back for the second term, don’t vote for me”.
Although the frequency of nationwide grid collapses has reportedly reduced compared with previous administrations, some Nigerians who spoke at the weekend said they had yet to experience a meaningful improvement in electricity supply.
Several communities across the country continue to experience prolonged blackouts, while consumers have also raised concerns over electricity costs and estimated billing.
Security challenge
Security was also a major issue in Tinubu’s 2023 campaign, with his manifesto promising a comprehensive approach to tackling terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other forms of violent crime.
He pledged to establish a “bold and assertive policy that will create a strong yet adaptive national security architecture and action to obliterate terror, kidnapping, banditry, and all other forms of violent extremism from the face of our nation”.
Opposition figures, however, argue that insecurity has remained one of the administration’s biggest challenges since May 2023.
No fewer than 750 people were killed by terrorists in 2025, while persistent attacks by terrorists, bandits and other criminal groups forced several residents to abandon their ancestral communities.
Nigeria was also recently ranked the fourth-worst country in the world in terms of the impact of terrorism.
About 12,365 kidnapping incidents have reportedly been recorded in Nigeria since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
A total of 842 people have reportedly been killed across 156 incidents recorded so far this year.
At least nine mass abductions have also occurred during the past three years of the Tinubu administration, involving 551 schoolchildren and staff who were reportedly kidnapped for ransom.
The security situation has consequently become a major talking point ahead of the 2027 election, with some Nigerians warning the APC against returning to the campaign trail with promises they believe were not fulfilled during the first term.
‘They made Nigerians poor and enriched themselves’ — ADC chieftain
Leader Sampson, the immediate past Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State, accused the Tinubu administration of failing to deliver on its promises.
Sampson alleged that the Renewed Hope Agenda had worsened the economic situation of ordinary Nigerians while benefiting government officials.
“Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has only succeeded in impoverishing Nigerians. They have only enriched themselves and that’s all about the hope agenda”, he said.
He blamed the removal of the fuel subsidy for much of the economic pressure experienced by Nigerians, recalling the immediate impact of the policy after Tinubu assumed office.
“Look at the issue of fuel subsidy, from the very first day Tinubu came into power, he announced that subsidy was gone and that very day, the petroleum pump price jumped up and fuel stations started shutting down. That is where Nigerians’ problems began till today.
“There is nothing they have done that gave hope to the ordinary Nigerian. This government failed in security. Every day you keep hearing abuse mass abduction killing and all of that.
“They keep saying that they are making progress in security yet we keep seeing more insecurity everyday. The government has done virtually nothing to improve the lives of Nigerians.
“You can’t travel by air because of the hike in airfare prices and you can’t move by road because of insecurity. It is a terrible situation that we have been.
“Tinubu told us that if he cannot provide electricity, we should not vote for him and we are going to do exactly what he said”, Sampson stated.
‘They want to lie again’ — Political analyst
Political analyst and grassroots mobiliser Aaron Akogwu said the APC would face difficulties explaining its record to voters during the 2027 campaign.
According to him, the party would struggle to present a convincing message because Nigerians would judge the administration against the promises made before the 2023 election.
“You can’t give what you don’t have. APC people have no single truth in their mouths. Like 2Baba said in one of his hit songs, it’s like they want to tell us another story again.
“The campaign is going to be difficult for them because what are they going to say to the people? The promises you made before we brought you in, have you been able to keep them? Are we expecting a new lie?” he questioned.
‘They only removed fuel, electricity subsidy from the poor and gave to the rich’ — Isaac Fayose
Nigerian businessman Prince Isaac Fayose also rejected claims of substantial economic improvement under the Tinubu administration, alleging that government policies had disproportionately benefited wealthy Nigerians.
He alleged that the APC government “removed subsidy from fuel and electricity from the poor and gave it to the rich. At a time, I agreed that subsidy must go but I never knew that they would take the subsidy away and replace it with them living large.
“The subsidy that was supposed to go to the common man is what they are now using to buy jets, that’s what they are now giving to the governors that are not working.
“Despite the subsidy removal, roads to Ekiti, Osun and others are impassable. They are now boasting of cash transfer to the poor. How much is the cash? N5,000 is less than $50. What business can someone do with that?
“Go to the North and see how people are suffering. People that spent billions of naira during the Osun election are now boasting of N50,000 cash transfer. Nigerians need to wake up and take their country back”.
FG highlights economic gains
Despite the criticism, the Federal Government has continued to defend its economic policies and argue that the reforms are producing results.
Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele on Saturday described Moody’s Ratings’ latest assessment of Nigeria’s economic outlook as an important external validation of the reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration.
Moody’s, one of the world’s major credit rating agencies, upgraded Nigeria’s outlook from ‘stable’ to ‘positive’ in its latest rating released on Friday.
In a statement made available to journalists, Oyedele said the Federal Government’s next objective was to move Nigeria into what he described as investment-grade status.
The competing narratives are expected to feature prominently as political parties prepare their manifestos and begin mobilising voters ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
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