Morganable Politics/Governance
According to the party, data indicating that about 139 million Nigerians are living below the national poverty line, with millions more facing acute food insecurity, underscores what it described as the administration’s inability to translate macroeconomic gains into improved living standards
kaNo —
The African Democratic Congress has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to abandon his administration’s economic policies or consider resigning from office, citing worsening poverty and hunger across the country as evidence of policy failure.
The opposition party made the demand in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, arguing that recent poverty and food security figures released by international development agencies reflect the human cost of the Federal Government’s reforms.
Millions Facing Acute Hunger
According to the party, data indicating that about 139 million Nigerians are living below the national poverty line, with millions more facing acute food insecurity, underscores what it described as the administration’s inability to translate macroeconomic gains into improved living standards.
“The evidence of 139 million people living in poverty and 17 million at risk of starvation is President Tinubu’s scorecard,” the statement read.
“On account of this catastrophic failure alone, President Tinubu should be contemplating resigning from office rather than seeking re-election.”
The ADC argued that while the Federal Government continues to highlight improvements in key economic indicators such as revenue growth and foreign exchange reserves, such gains have not been felt by ordinary Nigerians grappling with rising living costs.
“The ADC has repeatedly warned that the economic growth, increased revenue, and rising foreign reserves that the Tinubu-led APC government continues to celebrate are meaningless if they do not translate into better lives for the people or protect their livelihoods,” Abdullahi said.
The party further accused the government of persisting with what it termed “ruinous economic policies,” alleging that authorities have continued to “market recklessness as courage and wickedness as necessary pains.”
“The true measure of any economic policy is whether it improves the lives of the people, not compounds their misery,” the statement added.
The ADC also dismissed the Federal Government’s social intervention programmes as insufficient to address deepening poverty and food insecurity, insisting that palliative measures cannot provide a sustainable solution.
“Poverty cannot be defeated through palliatives. It can only be defeated by building an economy that enables Nigerians to produce more food, earn decent incomes and live with dignity,” the party said.
It also outlined plans to strengthen agricultural value chains, develop regional production belts, reduce transportation costs and invest in storage and agro-processing infrastructure to boost food production and stabilise prices.
Beyond agriculture, the party promised increased investment in nutrition, healthcare, education and skills development, arguing that long-term economic recovery depends on human capital development and inclusive growth.
“The choice before Nigeria is no longer between competing economic theories,” the statement said. “It is between an economy that produces impressive government statistics and one that produces better lives for its people.”
The Federal Government has consistently defended the reforms, describing them as necessary steps to stabilise the economy after years of structural distortions.
FG Cites Improvements In Revenue, Reserves
Officials have pointed to improvements in public revenue, stronger external reserves, increased investor confidence and signs of easing inflationary pressures as indications that the measures are beginning to yield results.
To cushion the immediate impact of the reforms, the government has rolled out several social intervention programmes, including cash transfers to vulnerable households, student loan schemes, consumer credit initiatives and support for small businesses and agricultural producers.
Analysts say the divergence between official economic indicators and citizens’ lived experiences continues to fuel political tensions and public debate, particularly as the country looks ahead to the 2027 general elections.
Amaechi Withdraws Suit Challenging Atiku’s Emergence As ADC Candidate
In a related political development, the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday struck out a suit filed by former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, challenging the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the ADC for the 2027 election.
The court’s decision followed the withdrawal of the suit by Amaechi through his counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), who informed the court that parties in the case had resolved their differences and filed an application for discontinuance.
After hearing the application, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik struck out the case.
Amaechi had earlier approached the court seeking to nullify the ADC presidential primary held on May 25, which produced Atiku as the party’s candidate. In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1215/2026, he alleged that the exercise was conducted in violation of provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, the party’s constitution and its guidelines for primary elections.
He had also sought an order restraining Atiku from presenting himself as the ADC’s presidential candidate.
Political observers say the withdrawal of the case signals a move towards unity within the opposition party as it prepares to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in the next general election.
The convergence of economic criticism and political realignment highlights the increasingly competitive nature of Nigeria’s political landscape, with parties positioning themselves around key issues such as economic management, poverty reduction and governance.
As the debate over economic reforms continues, the ADC’s latest stance underscores the growing pressure on the Tinubu administration to demonstrate that its policies can deliver tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
