Atiku camp questions Tinubu’s 90-day relief plan as deadline falls after election

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign council has described President Bola Tinubu’s newly announced 90-day cost-of-living relief plan as “election bait,” arguing that the programme’s timeline extends beyond the upcoming presidential election.

Phrank Shaibu, the director of strategic communication for the ADC presidential campaign of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, addressed reporters at the party secretariat in Abuja on Friday. He pointed out that with the presidential election only 86 days away, the government’s 90-day plan would effectively conclude after Nigerians have already cast their ballots.

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

Shaibu questioned why the administration waited until shortly before the election to introduce measures addressing the economic hardship that has persisted throughout the current administration’s tenure. He demanded specific implementation details for the plan’s five stated priorities: food affordability, tax harmonisation, completion of key projects, removal of investment bottlenecks, and household support.

The campaign official also raised concerns regarding a registration form circulating under the name “Arise for Tinubu 2027,” which reportedly requests voter identification, bank details, and phone numbers. Shaibu questioned the purpose of this data collection and warned that no Nigerian should have to surrender such sensitive information to a political group to access public relief.

Furthermore, Shaibu criticised the government’s fuel discount promotion through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), noting that he had personally visited a station where the promised discount was unavailable. He also questioned the reach of the initiative, noting that NNPC operates only a fraction of the thousands of fuel outlets across the country.

The ADC campaign also challenged President Tinubu’s planned campaign launch in Kaduna, citing the state’s recent history of insecurity, including civilian casualties from military airstrikes, abductions, and natural disasters. Shaibu urged Nigerians to judge the administration by its economic record rather than promises made during the election season.

Economic policy should be judged by what families can afford, not by how many deadlines a government announces.