Atiku accuses Tinubu of using 90‑day cost‑of‑living relief to win votes

On 24 October 2026, former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, running for president under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), publicly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s 90‑day cost‑of‑living relief plan announced by the National Economic Council (NEC). Atiku said the timing of the programme, scheduled to finish after the January 2027 election, appeared designed to influence voters.

Atiku’s campaign, through Director of Strategic Communication Phrank Shaibu, argued that the plan’s 90‑day duration would end after Nigerians had voted, effectively promising relief only after the poll. The accusation was that the government was using the relief as election bait, asking families to wait for benefits until after the votes were counted.

The ADC spokesperson also raised concerns about the plan’s priorities – food affordability, tax harmonisation, completion of key projects, removal of investment bottlenecks and household support – and questioned whether the measures would be sufficient to address the three‑and‑a‑half years of hardship that began after the petrol subsidy was removed.

Background

The 90‑day relief plan was unveiled by the NEC in October 2026, following the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023 that had increased transport, food and production costs. The government had also launched a petrol discount scheme through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) on 1 October, offering a N66 reduction per litre. However, Atiku’s team reported that many motorists, including himself, paid the full N1,405 per litre and that the discount was not available at many stations.

The ADC campaign has demanded that the NNPC publish data on the number of beneficiaries, the stations that participated and the volume of petrol sold at the discounted rate. They also called for transparency on the budget, eligibility criteria and payment arrangements of the proposed household assistance.

Why it matters

The accusations come ahead of the January 2027 presidential election, with the ADC positioning itself as an alternative to the incumbent administration. If the relief plan is perceived as a political tool, it could influence voter sentiment and undermine public trust in the government’s commitment to easing economic hardship.

The plan’s focus on food affordability and other priorities is intended to address the cost of living crisis that has affected households across Nigeria. Critics argue that a 90‑day window is insufficient to reverse the effects of rising prices and that the government’s failure to provide immediate support after the subsidy removal has left many families struggling.

The NNPC petrol discount controversy highlights potential gaps in the implementation of relief measures. If the discount scheme is not reaching a significant portion of motorists, the effectiveness of the broader cost‑of‑living plan could be questioned, affecting public perception of the administration’s responsiveness.