The African Democratic Congress ,ADC, has accused the ruling All progressives Congress, APC, of breaching the Electoral Act by campaigning for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, two years before the 2027 elections.
Citing President Tinubu’s campaign billboards, it alleged now litter some parts of the country, the ADC said the action is in violation of the nation’s extant election rules.
The coalition party demanded the immediate removal of the billboards and other campaign materials, including staging rallies promoting the president’s re-election.
In a statement by ADC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the ruling party should focus on the pressing problems in the country, affecting Nigerians, such as the economic hardship and insecurity instead of campaigning for President Tinubu’s re-election.
The oppoisition party highlighted some pressing problems the APC should focus on tackling, including the high cost of food, transportation, rent which it said is no longer affordable to many Nigerians, wondering whether the ruling party is sensitive to the plight of suffering Nigerians at all.
Abdullahi said many Nigerians are now living in fear, as the spate of killings and kidnapping by criminals have increased tremendously, while the APC fiddles on the re-election of President Tinubu.
The statement in part: “For months now, organs of the APC have staged rallies and unveiled billboards endorsing President Tinubu for a second term from Abuja to Port Harcourt, Minna, Kano, and Akure.
“These stage-managed endorsements blatantly ignore INEC’s reminder that public campaigning is unlawful until 150 days before the election.!
“While the APC chants four more years, food prices have soared, transport has become unaffordable, and many households can no longer pay rent.
“Headline inflation, which stood at 22 percent in 2023, hit a 30-year high of almost 35 percent in December, and remains above 22 percent today.
“The naira has plunged from N461 to over N1,500 against the dollar, crushing savings and suffocating small businesses.
“Petrol, which sold for N185 per litre before subsidy removal, now costs over N1,000 turning basic mobility into a daily nightmare.
“Between April and June, over 3,100 killings were recorded nationwide. These included 1,865 civilians and 122 security personnel.
“Only last Friday, more than 50 people were kidnapped in Sabon Gari Dirmi, Zamfara yet instead of action, our streets are lined with campaign posters.
“In 2023, the national grid collapsed 12 times and has failed multiple times this year. Despite promises, Nigeria still lives in darkness.
“Corruption remains rampant, and the country’s ranking in press freedom has dropped by 10 places within a year. Journalists are under growing pressure,” the APC spokesman said.
Meanwhile, close watchers of politics in the country explained that both the ruling party and opposition are in breach of the Electoral Act, by campaigning ahead the election in 2027.
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