Analysis-As Campaigns Begin in Nigeria, Tinubu’s Re-Election Bid Puts His Party on Trial

ABUJA, Aug 19 (Reuters) – As campaigning for January’s elections begins in Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term has effectively placed his All Progressives Congress (APC) party on trial.

Tinubu has defended his administration’s economic measures as necessary to unwind years of state intervention, with his government citing higher revenues and stronger investor interest as evidence of progress.

The APC’s tenure from 2015 to 2026 makes for unhappy reading and Tinubu’s reforms have particularly brought severe pain.

This assessment, provided by Cheta Nwanze, a partner at Nigeria-based risk advisory SBM Intelligence, reflects the skepticism many voters feel as they grapple with the current economic climate.

While the government points to fiscal stabilization, critics argue that the reforms have exacerbated the cost of living, while issues such as violence, kidnappings, and banditry remain rife across the country.