Nigerians have criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on social media following fresh campaign promises he made at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential rally in Dutse, Jigawa State, ahead of the 2027 general election.
Tinubu, who addressed party supporters on Tuesday, promised to reduce the cost of living, provide reliable electricity, strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base, support small businesses, create more jobs and introduce interest-free loans for farmers if re-elected.
The President also pledged increased investment in agriculture, farming subsidies and measures to improve food security.
Speaking at the rally, Tinubu said:
“We will reduce the cost of living. We will provide reliable power, not the whole privatisation that is not working. We provide you with reliable power in Nigeria.
“We will stimulate a stronger industrial base for our country. We will help nano, small-scale and medium-scale businesses. We will expand job opportunities for real income earners.
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“We have to invest in agriculture, we will subsidize farming, we will reward small scale farmers, interest-free loans for farmers are coming, prosperity is coming, food security will happen.”
However, the promises triggered criticism from Nigerians who questioned why the President was making fresh commitments on issues they believed should have been addressed during his first term.
A recurring question among social media users was: “Are you contesting for the first time?”
Several critics argued that the promises sounded similar to those made during the 2023 presidential campaign, particularly Tinubu’s commitment to improving electricity supply.
During the 2023 campaign, the then presidential candidate promised Nigerians reliable electricity and an end to estimated billing, saying voters should not give him a second term if he failed to deliver unless he provided adequate reasons.
He had said:
“Whichever way, by all means necessary, you will have electricity, and you will not pay for estimated bills anymore. A promise made will be a promise kept.
“If I don’t keep the promise and I come for a second term, don’t vote for me, unless I give you adequate reasons why I couldn’t deliver.”
The earlier pledge resurfaced in reactions to his latest promises, with critics questioning the administration’s performance in the power sector after more than three years in office.
Reacting to the development, an X user, @tobechiohaeri, wrote:
“Are you contesting for the first time? After 4 years you are still promising, you spent N17billion on solar for yourself and left us in darkness. Make we give you another 4 years of our life on earth make you waste, how many years come remain. God forbid bad thing.”
Another user, @hon_yaroo, said:
“Promise inside unfulfilled promise? APC is gone, look at the faces of those people in front of him, he knows they are not happy, they don’t want him, the guy is gone.”
Similarly, @akpancino commented:
“Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, shame on Nigerians. You can’t give what you don’t have.”
Another critic, @yagazieluchidi, wrote:
“At this point, I need to start laughing at Tinubu and APC. I used to be angry but right now, I can’t help but laugh. ‘We will.. We will.. We will’ Mr. William. Does this ugly slurry agbero has amnesia that he does not remember he is the fawking sitting president?”
On the economic challenges facing Nigerians, @Aminuidaah said many citizens had expected the removal of fuel subsidy to support the revival of industries and create employment opportunities.
“Many of us had high hopes that the removal of the fuel subsidy would revive some of our mineral endowments—such as the steel company, textile factories, and other mineral deposits—to create more jobs. Unfortunately, we are still battling electricity shortages. It is obvious that some of the recycled politicians have no key to our problems,” the user wrote.
Another user, @UWASOMBA, described the latest promises as a political stunt, arguing that similar commitments had not been fulfilled.
“This has to be the most foolish political stunt to pull. Promises were made the last time yet they remain unfulfilled. Stop fooling yourself, Mr President!” the user stated.
Also reacting, @Drzoeoluwatoyin recalled Tinubu’s 2023 electricity pledge and questioned why the President was making another commitment on the same issue ahead of the 2027 election.
“How do we believe the words of a President who clearly and boldly declared that if he doesn’t solve power issues within 2years in power, if elected as president back then, that Nigerians should not re-elect him.
“He has been in office for over 3 years and the power supply has been worse and yet he is promising reliable power supply again after failing woefully in the first term. If Nigeria can put their mind to work, President Tinubu will never win the 2027 election,” the user wrote.
The renewed criticism comes as Tinubu begins seeking another four-year mandate, with electricity supply, the cost of living, job creation and food security likely to remain major issues in the political debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
