Atiku Abubakar Critiques Tinubu's Economic Policies

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), criticized President Bola Tinubu's economic policies, labeling them a failure. He stated that Nigerians are unable to feed their children and that workers cannot afford transport fares due to the rising cost of living.

In a statement signed by Phrank Shaibu, the Director of Strategic Communications for the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku referenced a June 2026 report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that acknowledged improvements in Nigeria's macroeconomic outcomes but also indicated that 63 percent of Nigerians live below the national poverty line, with 27 million facing food insecurity. He noted that recent fuel price increases have exacerbated household budget pressures, with petrol prices reaching approximately N1,400 per litre in Lagos and Abuja, and diesel exceeding N2,000 per litre.

Atiku emphasized that economic reforms should not burden the poor while benefiting the wealthy, questioning the promised gains from the current pain experienced by citizens.