Nigeria’s election campaign begins with Tinubu facing a reform test

The race for Nigeria’s top job began Wednesday as the West African nation’s electoral commission formally opened the campaign season. As campaigning for January’s elections kicks off, President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid puts his party on trial.

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

Tinubu, who was elected in 2023, will run against 18 opposition candidates. He has defended his economic measures, including the removal of the fuel subsidy and foreign-exchange reforms, as necessary to unwind years of state intervention and restore stability. However, critics argue that these policies have fueled crushing inflation and economic hardship, while violence, kidnappings, and banditry remain rife across the country.

Tinubu’s resolve to turn around Nigeria’s economy and fix its shaky government finances is facing its sternest test yet.

While the president’s approval rating has declined, his political machinery and a fractured opposition may play a significant role in shaping the outcome of the race. Voters are now left to decide whether to judge the administration by its long-term economic promises or the immediate impact of its reforms on their daily lives.