The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s electricity sector, accusing his administration of failing to deliver on key campaign promises made ahead of the 2023 general elections.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed disappointment over what it described as “minimal progress” toward providing uninterrupted electricity and ending estimated billing, both of which were central themes in Tinubu’s campaign.
Abdullahi recalled a viral campaign video in which Tinubu vowed to provide 24-hour electricity, end the use of estimated billing, and assured Nigerians that, “A promise made will be a promise kept. If I don’t keep my promise and I come back for a second time, don’t vote for me.”
“Good morning, Nigerians. Today, we just want to take some time to remind President Tinubu that he promised Nigerians uninterrupted electricity within four years. Yes, that’s right—Mr. President promised us 24/7 power. All by himself,” the ADC said in the statement.
According to the party, since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, electricity tariffs have risen by 240%, and the national grid has suffered 12 system collapses. Despite these developments, there has been no major policy shift or clear roadmap from the administration addressing the persistent power crisis.
Abdullahi highlighted that more than 90 million Nigerians still lack access to electricity, while urban areas under the Band A to E classification reportedly receive only four to six hours of supply daily. The situation is even more dire in rural communities, where most of Nigeria’s 50 million households remain completely off-grid.
He further accused the federal government of displaying a lack of urgency and empathy, noting that millions of citizens still rely on fuel-powered generators and mobile charging kiosks for basic electricity needs.
“We are past the halfway mark of this administration, and millions of Nigerians are still charging their phones at kiosks and spending hundreds of thousands of naira monthly to power their homes and businesses,” he said.
The statement ended with a sharp reminder of Tinubu’s own words:
“Mr. President, you once said: ‘If I don’t give you electricity, don’t vote for me.’ Well, Nigerians are listening. And come 2027, we intend to grant your wish.”
As of the time of this report, the Presidency has yet to respond to the ADC’s remarks.