The All Progressives Congress and the African Democratic Congress have clashed over President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies. The APC said the reforms laid the foundation for recovery. The ADC said the administration has worsened hardship. The exchange occurred on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy in May 2023. He floated the naira the same year. The reforms were painful. Inflation peaked at 33.2% in 2024. The naira weakened sharply. The World Bank estimates 63% of Nigerians live below the poverty line. The government says the measures were necessary. The opposition says they were poorly sequenced. The debate will shape the 2027 election.
The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, defended the reforms. He said floating the exchange rate “saved Nigeria from utter disintegration.” He said foreign exchange reforms created stability that attracts investment. He acknowledged hardship but said the government is addressing decades of accumulated problems.
The ADC’s Director of Media, Kola Ologbondiyan, criticised the administration. He cited multidimensional poverty figures. He said 17.9 million additional Nigerians fell into poverty between 2021 and 2024. He said the government should admit its shortcomings. The ADC has pledged to restore a targeted petrol subsidy if elected.
Winners: The APC, which defends its record. The ADC, which gains a campaign issue. Both parties, which gain visibility. Losers: Nigerians facing hardship. The government, if the message does not land. Voters, who hear claims and counter-claims.
Bottom Line: Two parties, two narratives. The economy is the battleground. Nigerians will decide which argument is convincing.