President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has come under fresh criticism from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, which has accused him of being disconnected from the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians.
Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, made the allegation during an interview on ARISE News on Sunday, October 25, 2026, while reacting to the President’s remarks blaming opposition parties for hunger and poverty in the country.
Shaibu questioned why Tinubu would attribute the country’s economic difficulties to political opponents after spending approximately three and a half years in office.
“He has lost touch with reality. Bola is not aware of his environment. He is not aware of what Nigerians are going through. He’s not even aware that he’s president,” Shaibu said during the interview. Arise TV
The ADC campaign official argued that the President should accept responsibility for the economic consequences of his administration’s policies instead of shifting blame to opposition parties.
His comments followed Tinubu’s address at the APC presidential campaign flag-off rally in Kaduna on Saturday, where the President accused opposition parties of creating hunger and poverty while criticising his government for failing to address the problems.
Tinubu had insisted that his administration was working to eradicate poverty and improve economic conditions, urging Nigerians to support his policies and re-election bid in 2027.
Shaibu, however, challenged that explanation, arguing that the administration’s performance should be assessed against the economic conditions Nigerians experienced when Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
He identified the removal of the petrol subsidy as a major factor behind the sharp rise in living costs, arguing that the policy had contributed to increases in transportation, food and other essential expenses.
According to Shaibu, the government should have introduced sufficient measures to cushion the effects of the reform on households, particularly low-income earners struggling to meet basic needs.
He also raised concerns about the cost of university education, claiming that increases in tuition fees had placed additional pressure on students and their families.
The ADC spokesman questioned the rationale behind blaming opposition parties for economic hardship, noting that the ruling APC had governed Nigeria for eight years under former President Muhammadu Buhari before Tinubu took office.
He argued that the President’s comments demonstrated a failure to acknowledge the difficulties experienced by ordinary Nigerians.
The exchange reflects the intensifying political contest over the economy as parties prepare for the 2027 general election.
Tinubu’s administration has defended its reforms as necessary to address longstanding structural problems, strengthen public finances and attract investment. Opposition politicians, however, have continued to question whether those measures have delivered sufficient relief to citizens.
Shaibu’s comments represent the ADC campaign council’s position on the administration’s economic record. The competing claims are likely to remain central to the election campaign, with voters expected to weigh the government’s explanations against their experiences of prices, employment and household income.