Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu for blaming the opposition for hunger and poverty in Nigeria, insisting that the administration must take responsibility for the country’s economic challenges ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was reacting to Tinubu’s remarks at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign flag-off in Kaduna on Saturday, where the President accused the opposition of creating hunger and poverty.

In a statement issued by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President described Tinubu’s comments as either “delusion or a staggering case of political amnesia.”

Atiku argued that the APC had been in power for several years and could not reasonably blame opposition parties for economic hardship experienced under its administration.

“The APC governed Nigeria for eight years before you took office. You have added another three and a half years. Nigerians know who has been in power, and hardship did not begin when the opposition started talking about it. Stop insulting their intelligence and answer for your record,” he said.

He accused the Tinubu administration of worsening the economic situation, arguing that Nigerians were struggling with the rising cost of living and deserved answers rather than political excuses.

The ADC presidential candidate also faulted the President’s planned inauguration of a section of the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, describing the ceremony as disconnected from the daily realities of ordinary Nigerians.

“A road cannot be completed with a speech or a ribbon cutting ceremony,” Atiku said.

He further challenged the Federal Government to account for the removal of the petrol subsidy and the depreciation of the naira, which he said had fallen from about ₦471 to ₦1,329 against the dollar.

Atiku also cited a World Bank estimate that 63 per cent of Nigerians would be living below the national poverty line in 2026, using the projection to question the administration’s handling of the economy.

Beyond the cost-of-living crisis, the former Vice President raised questions about federal budget implementation and public expenditure.

He queried the extension of the 2024 budget into 2025 alongside a separate 2025 budget, as well as figures he cited as ₦7.13 trillion recorded under “energy security” in 2024 and ₦11.2 trillion in NNPC pipeline-related spending.

He called on the government to explain the expenditure, disclose the projects and services delivered, and identify the beneficiaries of the funds.

Atiku also demanded clarification over what he described as a $12.4 billion gap in Nigeria’s external accounts in the first half of 2026 and a reported $22.5 million payment in “other charges” associated with an Abu Dhabi financing facility.

On security, he accused the administration of failing to adequately address killings, kidnappings and displacement across the country, insisting that Nigerians were entitled to question the government’s response to the persistent threats.

“You cannot govern for three years, make life harder, and then blame others for describing the hardship. You asked who created the hunger. Nigerians are asking what you have done to end it,” he said.

Atiku maintained that the 2027 presidential election would serve as a referendum on Tinubu’s performance, arguing that voters would assess the administration based on their economic circumstances and experiences in their communities.

“The people will judge your government by the lives they are living, not by the excuses you offer at campaign rallies,” he added.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced plans to unveil its National Campaign Council and present its Statement of Account at the party’s third National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Monday in Abuja.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, noting that the meeting would commence at 10 a.m. at JD Event Centre, Kashim Ibrahim Way, opposite A-Class Park, Maitama, Abuja.

According to Director, the presentation of the party’s financial statement by the National Treasurer will be one of the major highlights of the meeting, underscoring the party’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

He challenged other political parties, particularly the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to adopt similar standards of openness in managing their finances.

“This is in deference to our avowed commitment to the principles of transparency and accountability,” Director said.

He added that the NDC’s approach to party financing was informed by the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians, which he attributed to the policies of the APC-led administration.

The publicity secretary explained that approximately 80 per cent of the party’s candidates could not afford the Expression of Interest forms, prompting the NDC to provide the forms free of charge to eligible candidates.

“For the NDC, it is no longer politics as usual. Our finances would have been more robust. However, contrary to speculations in the public domain, and due to the level of poverty, hunger and deprivation in the country occasioned by the rudderless APC and its amorphous economic policies, about 80% of our candidates could not afford the Expression of Interest forms. The party had to issue forms to such candidates free of charge,” he said.

Director further disclosed that the meeting would feature the unveiling of the party’s National Campaign Council (NCC), which he described as an all-encompassing structure designed to coordinate campaigns across different levels of government.

According to him, the council will cover the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and State Houses of Assembly campaigns.

The party will also present Certificates of Return to its candidates contesting the various elective positions.

Describing the NDC as prepared for the forthcoming electoral contests, Director said the party was committed to offering Nigerians what he called altruistic leadership.

“The NDC is turbo-charged and ready to give Nigerians the altruistic leadership the nation deserves,” he added.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at former Anambra State governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, describing him as a “president of social media” and questioning his ability to govern Nigeria.

Wike made the remarks on Saturday during a town hall meeting with stakeholders in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he argued that online popularity alone was insufficient qualification for the presidency.

The minister said he would support Obi if the contest were limited to social media popularity but insisted that governing Nigeria required a different set of qualities.

“Truly speaking, I gave him president of social media. If you were to vote who will be president of social media, I will vote for him. But if it is to govern Nigeria, it capital no!” Wike said.

He also criticised Obi for carrying his own bags, interpreting the practice as an attempt to portray himself as frugal.

According to Wike, a former governor seeking the presidency should not be unwilling to employ a personal assistant to handle such responsibilities.

“As a former governor, you cannot be stingy not to have employed a personal assistant who will carry your bag. You want to show you carry your bag. We don’t want such a stingy person as a president,” he said.

Wike further challenged Nigerians to assess Obi’s record as Anambra governor by comparing his administration with that of the incumbent governor, Chukwuma Soludo.

He maintained that political aspirants should be judged by their records in office, their ability to manage challenges and the tangible results of their leadership, rather than public perception and campaign promises.

The FCT minister also criticised politicians who abandon their parties during internal crises, citing his experience in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as an example of why political disagreements should be confronted.

“How will you solve the problem of the country? Did you see when there was a problem in PDP? Did I run? I defeated them,” he said.

Turning to Rivers State, Wike accused the previous administration of spending public funds on projects that, according to him, failed to deliver commensurate benefits to residents.

He alleged that $39 million, which he estimated at approximately N53 billion, was spent on the proposed 1,000-bed Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital without the project reaching the foundation stage.

“Thirty-nine million US dollars, 53 billion naira, gone! As I speak to you, there’s no foundation, no one block laid,” he said.

He also questioned the viability of the state’s monorail project, alleging that about N60 billion was spent on it without adequate returns for residents.

On the sale of a gas turbine, Wike claimed the transaction was valued at $308 million but alleged that only $308,000 remained in the relevant state account when he assumed office in May 2015.

The minister further recalled a proposal to spend $10 million on fumigating Rivers State to combat mosquitoes, questioning the rationale behind the proposed expenditure.

The allegations concerning the projects and financial transactions were presented by Wike during the meeting.

Wike reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring his intention to support the party in the 2027 presidential election.

He also criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket and questioned the reliability of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whom he said he had known since their days in the PDP.

The minister said the Rainbow Coalition had brought politicians from different parties together in Rivers State to reduce political tension and violence, even as members prepared to contest elections on different platforms.

“Under a Rainbow Coalition, that’s why in our state today, you see APC, PDP, all of us. No more Rivers of blood, no more shooting, not many people going to die,” he said.

Wike announced that the coalition would unveil its candidates on October 27, identifying Kingsley Chinda as its preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship election.

He also named candidates for other elective positions, noting that some would contest under the APC despite the coalition’s membership cutting across party lines.

The minister urged residents to support candidates he described as experienced and committed to public service.

He also assured stakeholders in Bonny that issues raised during the town hall meeting would receive attention.

Wike praised the completion of the Bonny-Bodo Road, describing it as a major infrastructure milestone that had improved access to the island community and reduced residents’ dependence on boat travel.

He said he had informed President Tinubu of the road’s significance, stressing that improved infrastructure remained essential to Bonny’s development.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other northern presidential aspirants to shelve their ambitions for the 2027 general elections and wait until 2031.

Akume argued that President Bola Tinubu, who hails from the South, should be allowed to complete two terms in office before power returns to the North.

According to a report by Leadership Newspapers, the SGF made the remarks while addressing Benue State indigenes residing in Kaduna, where he called on Northerners to remain united and avoid political activities that could weaken the region’s collective interests.

He described northern politicians seeking the presidency in 2027 as misleading the Arewa region, insisting that the North should prioritise long-term political calculations over individual ambitions.

Akume maintained that supporting Tinubu’s re-election bid would help preserve political stability and prevent divisions among northern stakeholders.

The former Benue State governor also cautioned political leaders against allowing personal interests, religious differences and other considerations to undermine the region’s unity.

He said Nigeria’s political history offered important lessons on the consequences of internal disagreements, urging northern leaders to avoid actions that could diminish their influence in national affairs.

Akume further stressed the need for cooperation among political stakeholders, arguing that a united North would be better positioned to protect its interests and contribute to national development.

Beyond partisan politics, the SGF called for national unity, peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and religious communities.

He also highlighted the importance of preserving cultural identities and traditions, describing shared heritage as a vital instrument for strengthening relationships among communities.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Kaduna State for the official flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign ahead of the 2027 general election.

The President was welcomed by Vice President Kashim Shettima and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani ahead of the campaign rally.

Thousands of APC supporters have converged on the venue for the event, which has also attracted ministers, governors, members of the National Assembly and other prominent party leaders.

The rally signals the formal commencement of the ruling party’s campaign to secure another four-year mandate for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Kaduna’s selection as the launch venue underscores the APC’s efforts to consolidate its political base and strengthen grassroots support across Northern Nigeria ahead of the polls.

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said Nigerians who fail to acknowledge the progress recorded under President Bola Tinubu’s administration need what she described as “Bola Tinubu eyeglasses” to recognise the changes taking place in the country.

She made the remark on Friday during the inauguration of the Abuja headquarters of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, a grassroots political organisation mobilising support for the President’s re-election bid in the 2027 general election.

Mrs Tinubu cited developments at Nigerian airports as evidence of progress, expressing optimism that ongoing changes would make air travel more convenient and efficient.

“So things are happening in Nigeria, except, you know, those who don’t see; maybe we’ll give them some, you know, Bola Tinubu eyeglasses. We are doing that, JigiBola,” the First Lady said.

Her reference to “Jigi-Bola” evokes an eye-care initiative introduced by her husband in 2001 during his tenure as governor of Lagos State.

The programme provided eye examinations, eyeglasses and surgical services before it was relaunched by the Lagos State Government in 2021.

The First Lady also expressed a desire to experience faster and more convenient journeys through the country’s airports, noting that improvements were already taking place.

“I want to get to the airport. I want to travel, you know, so quickly. And you can see our airports too are changing,” she said.

Looking ahead to the end of her husband’s second-term ambition, Mrs Tinubu expressed hope that Nigeria would have become a better place by 2031, when she expects to have reached her 70s.

“I want to leave Aso Rock, in 2031, by the grace of God, and enter a Nigeria that me as a 70-something-year-old woman will enjoy,” she said.

At the event, the First Lady officially commissioned the Abuja headquarters of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement and declared her support for President Tinubu’s anticipated re-election campaign in 2027.

“So to the glory of God, and for the victory of Mr President come 2027, I hereby formally commission the PBAT door-to-door movement campaign headquarters Abuja,” she said.

Twenty-four State Houses of Assembly have approved the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police in Nigeria, meeting the constitutional threshold required for the alteration to proceed.

The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this on Friday in a statement issued on behalf of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, which he chairs.

According to the statement, the approval by 24 of Nigeria’s 36 state assemblies satisfies the two-thirds requirement stipulated under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution for constitutional amendments.

The working group commended the state legislatures for approving the proposal, as well as the National Assembly for passing the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, through both chambers.

“In line with Section 9 of the Constitution, the amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to Mr President for assent,” the statement said.

The proposed amendment is designed to provide constitutional backing for a dual policing arrangement comprising the Federal Police Service and state police services.

The initiative is part of broader efforts to reform Nigeria’s policing system and strengthen security across the country.
National Policing Bill Under Review

The working group disclosed that the draft National Policing Bill, 2026, was undergoing legislative drafting review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice.

The process was expected to be completed, with the draft bills returned on or before Friday, October 30, 2026.

The group said it would undertake a final consideration of the bills before presenting them to President Tinubu.

It also called on stakeholders to support what it described as a smooth transition to a dual policing system intended to improve public safety.

The National Assembly transmitted the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the 36 state assemblies on September 16 for consideration and approval, giving them an administrative timeframe of 30 days to communicate their decisions.

On October 9, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs Chairman, Yemi Adaramodu, expressed confidence that the proposal would receive the required support, identifying Edo, Oyo, Osun and Rivers as states that had approved it at the time.