Nigerian President Bola Tinubu officially launched his reelection campaign on Saturday, seeking a second presidential term amidst a severe cost-of-living crisis and a fractured opposition. The campaign rally took place in the northwestern state of Kaduna.
The upcoming presidential election, scheduled for January, will unfold against the backdrop of a deteriorating economy that has fueled public anger against Tinubu’s administration. However, President Tinubu placed the blame for the economic hardship squarely on opposition parties.
“I hear my opponents talking about hunger and poverty. Who created it? They did,” Tinubu stated at the rally. “They created the hunger, they created the poverty. We are trying to eradicate it."
Tinubu faces challenges from over a dozen opposition candidates, though political analysts anticipate a three-man contest, primarily involving Tinubu and the two contenders he defeated in the 2023 election. These include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a seasoned presidential candidate, and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a former state governor who gained significant youth appeal in the last race.
A key economic reform enacted by Tinubu shortly after his inauguration in 2023 was the removal of a decades-long government-funded gasoline subsidy. While lauded by some as a bold move, this policy contributed to the devaluation of the naira and widespread economic hardship across the country.
Addressing the economic situation, Tinubu asserted, “We have prosperity and consistency, growth, recovery and opportunity, I assure you. Your prosperity is here. Fuel subsidy is in the past, no more corruption, no more lies.”
Political analyst Majeed Dahiru, speaking to The Associated Press, indicated that public discontent over Tinubu’s economic policies poses a significant challenge to his prospects for a second term. “It is a tough one. But one thing is certain that is not going to be a walkover for any of the contending parties at all in this election. It is one that you can’t predict,” Dahiru commented.
In the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu secured victory with over 8.7 million votes. Atiku Abubakar followed with more than 6.9 million votes, and Peter Obi garnered 6.1 million, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission. Despite winning the most votes, Tinubu recorded one of the lowest vote percentages ever for an elected president, reflecting a degree of unpopularity.
The current split among opposition parties could potentially enhance Tinubu’s chances of winning in the upcoming 2027 election, mirroring the scenario in 2023. An attempt by opposition candidates Atiku and Obi, among others, to form an alliance in 2025 to unseat Tinubu ultimately collapsed before it could fully materialize.
