'Deliver electricity or don't ask Nigerians for another mandate' – ADC to Tinubu

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has harshly criticized President Bola Tinubu's administration for not delivering on his 2023 electricity promise, branding laws and government bond programs insufficient to replace reliable power supply. The council's Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, penned a statement in response to Dele Alake, spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, who defended Tinubu's electricity record.

Recalling Tinubu's campaign pledge, the ADC-PCC quoted the President as saying, "Don’t vote for me for a second term if I fail to deliver electricity." The council's assertion is that over three years after the promise, Nigerians are still grappling with persistent power outages, frequent national grid collapses, and unreliable electricity supply.

The administrations' decision to raise electricity tariffs without providing reliable supply has exacerbated the burden on households, manufacturers, and small businesses, the council argues.

Hospitality businesses, the ADC-PCC notes, have resorted to rationing electricity for guests to cut costs. The council also questions the impact of the Presidential Metering Initiative, alleging that electricity distribution companies continue to issue estimated bills despite the programme. Rejecting the APC's reliance on the Electricity Act and bond programs to defend the administration, the ADC-PCC asserts that an Act is not electricity and a bond prospectus does not power homes and factories. They argue that Nigerians do not need statutes, but rather electricity that works.

The ADC-PCC maintains that Tinubu's condition for seeking a second term is clear: deliver electricity or do not ask Nigerians for another mandate.