RismadarVoice Reporters
October 4, 2026
The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council has criticised Vice President Kashim Shettima over his claim that President Bola Tinubu rescued Nigeria from economic collapse, arguing that the All Progressives Congress cannot separate the current administration from its record under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The council said Shettima’s reference to Nigeria being on the path towards a “Caracas” situation before Tinubu assumed office raised questions about the performance of the Buhari administration, which governed Nigeria under the APC for eight years.
In a statement, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council’s Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, described Shettima’s comments as “self-indicting.”
“If Nigeria was heading to Caracas under Buhari, it means Buhari and the APC deceived Nigerians for eight years,” Ologbondiyan said.
He argued that the APC should accept responsibility for the economic conditions inherited by Tinubu in 2023 rather than attempt to distinguish the current government from the previous administration.
Ologbondiyan also recalled that Tinubu had publicly supported Buhari’s administration and campaigned on continuing some of its policies and programmes.
The ADC campaign council further criticised the government’s economic performance, citing the cost of food and other essential goods, unemployment, insecurity and pressure on household finances.
It accused the Tinubu administration of worsening economic hardship, although the Federal Government has repeatedly defended its reforms as necessary to stabilise public finances and reposition the economy for longer-term growth.
The opposition council also questioned the administration’s transport initiatives, including plans for 10,600 electric tricycles, 300 buses and electric taxis under an e-logistics programme.
Ologbondiyan called on Nigerians to assess the government based on the implementation and results of its policies and previous commitments on reducing transportation costs.
The ADC said it would continue presenting itself as an alternative to the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The exchange comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 polls, with economic management and the cost of living emerging as major issues in the political debate.
