ADC Party Knocks Tinubu, APC Over Economic Failures, Questions Safety Of Supporters At Kaduna Rally | Sahara Reporters

The allegations were contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has accused President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of economic mismanagement, alleging that the administration’s policies have worsened living conditions for Nigerians.

The party also questioned the safety of APC supporters reportedly transported to a campaign rally in Kaduna, alleging that some were left sleeping on the streets and that accidents involving supporters travelling from Sokoto and Abuja had been reported.

The allegations were contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.

Titled “Tinubu’s Panic Cannot Sanitise The APC’s Catastrophic Record,” the statement also accused the APC of making unsubstantiated allegations against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the ADC over an alleged letter and purported manipulated videos.

Shaibu said Dele Alake’s earlier statement accusing Atiku and the ADC of a “devious plan” involving artificial intelligence manipulation and deepfakes failed to provide evidence linking them to the alleged material.

“He accuses Atiku Abubakar and the ADC of a ‘devious plan,’ AI manipulation and deepfakes, yet offers no evidence linking them to the alleged letter or any fabricated video,” Shaibu said.

He challenged Alake to provide evidence to support the allegations, including the identities of those involved, dates and forensic findings.

“Until then, his ‘fake news alert’ is an empty political stunt,” the ADC campaign spokesman stated.

Shaibu argued that the APC did not need to blame political opponents for negative public perceptions, insisting that the administration’s economic record was sufficient to explain Nigerians’ dissatisfaction.

“No conspiracy is needed to expose the APC. Its own failures are visible in every market, filling station and household,” he said.

The ADC spokesman cited petrol prices of about ₦1,400 per litre, diesel prices exceeding ₦2,000 and food inflation approaching 20 per cent as examples of the economic pressures facing Nigerians.

He also referred to a World Bank poverty estimate reportedly published by Reuters, arguing that the figures reflected the consequences of the government’s economic policies.

The statement described the administration’s economic direction as “an incompetent, callous and ruinous economic course,” adding that the hardships experienced by Nigerians were not fabricated claims.

However, the figures cited in the statement were not accompanied by specific source links or supporting documentation.

Shaibu also questioned the APC’s explanation that a vehicle seen near one of its campaign billboards in Kaduna was part of a “routine patrol.”

“Bola calls the vehicle near an APC billboard a ‘routine patrol.’ Nigerians can still ask why a campaign billboard needed protection,” he said.

He further alleged that APC supporters had been brought into Kaduna from distant states and left sleeping on the streets.

The ADC campaign council also raised concerns over reports of accidents involving APC supporters travelling from Sokoto and Abuja to attend the rally.

“Details remain unconfirmed, and the APC must urgently account for the passengers’ safety,” Shaibu said.

The statement did not provide details of the alleged accidents, including their locations, the number of people involved or whether anyone was injured or killed.

Shaibu criticised the alleged transportation of supporters over long distances for campaign events, describing the practice as political exploitation.

“Making citizens endure long, hazardous journeys and sleep outdoors simply to create rally optics is political exploitation, not leadership,” he said.

He accused the ruling party of prioritising the appearance of large crowds over the welfare and dignity of supporters attending its events.

The ADC spokesman also questioned the geographical reach of Tinubu’s campaign, claiming that the President was campaigning in only 12 states.

He alleged that the same supporters were being transported from one rally to another to create the impression of widespread nationwide support.

“A campaign that must transport its audience from state to state cannot pass off that audience as spontaneous nationwide support,” Shaibu stated.

He added that the campaign could hire buses, assemble crowds and display billboards but could not manufacture genuine public support.

“You can hire buses, assemble a crowd and plaster the streets with billboards. You cannot hire consent,” he said.

Shaibu maintained that Nigerians were increasingly dissatisfied with the administration because of rising prices, declining purchasing power and what he described as broken promises.

He argued that the APC’s political messaging would not resolve the economic difficulties confronting households.

“Alake’s attack on Atiku will not reduce the cost of a meal by one naira,” he said.