The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council and the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, have clashed over President Bola Tinubu’s record in the power sector ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While the APC insisted that the President was taking concrete steps to fulfil his campaign promise of stable electricity, Atiku argued that Nigerians were yet to see meaningful improvements despite years of promises.
The disagreement comes amid persistent power shortages affecting households and businesses across the country, more than three years after Mr Tinubu promised during the 2023 presidential campaign to improve electricity supply and end estimated billing.
APC defends Tinubu’s power record
The APC Presidential Campaign Council, in a statement issued by its spokesperson and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, urged Nigerians to assess the President’s electricity pledge alongside the full context of his campaign remarks and his administration’s actions since 2023.
Mr Alake recalled that Mr Tinubu had told Nigerians that he would ensure electricity supply and end estimated billing, while also saying voters should not re-elect him if he failed to deliver without providing adequate reasons.
He argued that the administration had introduced several reforms aimed at addressing longstanding challenges in the sector.
The APC cited the Electricity Act 2023, which allows states to participate in electricity generation, transmission and distribution, as one of the major reforms undertaken by the administration.
It said Lagos, Enugu, Abia, Ekiti, Oyo, Kaduna and Niger states had already begun taking advantage of the law by establishing electricity regulatory agencies and attracting private investment.
Government cites metering, debt settlement
The campaign council also said the Federal Government had taken responsibility for more than N6tn in legacy debts accumulated between 2015 and 2025.
It said the Presidential Metering Initiative had addressed part of the country’s metering gap, with more than 1.5 million customers reportedly metered in the last three years.
The APC added that the government had adjusted electricity tariffs towards cost-reflective rates while introducing measures aimed at protecting low-income consumers.
It also cited a N4tn bond programme established to settle verified debts owed to 21 power-generating and gas companies.
According to the council, the first two tranches of the programme had raised more than N1.2tn towards settling the outstanding debts.
The APC further pointed to planned upgrades of transmission infrastructure, including the modernisation of the Osogbo Grid Control Centre and the construction of an East-West super grid.
It said the Federal Executive Council had also approved projects involving the construction of eight new substations and upgrades to four existing substations in June 2026.
Atiku rejects APC explanation
Mr Atiku, however, rejected the APC’s defence, insisting that Nigerians should judge the President by the results of his administration rather than policy announcements and financial interventions.
In a statement by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice-President said Nigerians had endured persistent electricity shortages despite the President’s campaign pledge.
Mr Atiku argued that settling old debts did not amount to increasing electricity generation capacity.
“Paying old debts is not the same as building new power infrastructure. Bonds cannot be presented as a substitute for power in people’s homes,” he said.
He also accused the administration of failing to build new generation infrastructure of its own, while criticising the existing electricity tariff bands.
Atiku targets electricity tariffs
The ADC candidate said Nigerians continued to pay electricity bills despite unreliable supply, forcing households and businesses to spend additional money on generators and other alternative sources of power.
He specifically cited Band A customers, who he said pay about N209.50 per kilowatt-hour before VAT.
“Across every band, the same hardship endures: the power fails, but the bill arrives,” Mr Atiku said.
He promised that, if elected, his administration would abolish the existing five-band electricity tariff system and introduce what he described as a fairer, transparent and affordable framework.
He said the new system would protect consumers while ensuring that electricity distribution companies were held accountable for the quality of service delivered.
Atiku questions subsidy removal
The ADC candidate also questioned the Federal Government’s plan to end electricity subsidies from 2027.
He demanded clarity on how the proposed policy would affect electricity bills, particularly for households and businesses already struggling with rising energy costs.
Mr Atiku also raised concerns about the possible impact of a five per cent surcharge under the Nigeria Tax Act on certain fossil fuels, including petrol and diesel.
The dispute comes as electricity supply remains a major political issue ahead of the 2027 elections, with inadequate generation, transmission constraints, distribution challenges, gas supply problems and financial pressures continuing to affect the sector.
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