ATIKU ACCUSES TINUBU OF BREAKING ELECTRICITY PROMISE, VOWS TO PRIORITISE POWER SECTOR IF ELECTED

By NaijaParrot | November 01, 2026 

Nigeria 

 Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of failing to fulfil his campaign promise of providing Nigerians with steady electricity, insisting that resolving the country’s power crisis would be a major priority if he is elected president. Atiku made the remarks on Sunday through a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council. 

 His comments followed a defence of the Tinubu administration’s electricity-sector record by the spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Alake.

Atiku argued that legislation, financial arrangements, committees and announced projects should not be presented as substitutes for reliable electricity in Nigerian homes and businesses. He maintained that many households and business owners continued to experience unstable power supply while spending additional money on generators and other alternative energy sources. 

 The former vice president also criticised the electricity tariff structure, arguing that consumers across the different service bands were still struggling with unreliable supply despite paying varying rates. He cited the approximately ₦209.50 per kilowatt-hour tariff reportedly paid by some Band A customers before VAT, questioning the justification for higher charges when electricity supply remained inconsistent. 

 Atiku also demanded clarification from the Federal Government on the proposed withdrawal of electricity subsidies from 2027. He questioned how the policy would affect electricity bills and called for transparency over the possible financial implications for households and businesses. He further raised concerns about VAT on electricity and the proposed five per cent surcharge on certain fossil fuels, including petrol and diesel, under the Nigeria Tax Act. 

 According to him, Nigerians deserve clear explanations about additional energy-related costs, particularly amid the rising cost of living. 

 The ADC chieftain said that, if elected, he would work with state governments and relevant regulatory authorities to replace the existing electricity band arrangement with what he described as a fairer, more transparent and affordable pricing framework. He also promised to strengthen accountability among electricity distribution companies, ensuring that consumers are charged in relation to the quality and quantity of electricity supplied. 

 further questioned whether the administration’s multitrillion-naira bond programme to settle outstanding debts owed to power generation and gas companies would translate into increased electricity generation. He argued that settling existing debts was different from building new generation infrastructure and expanding the country’s power capacity. 

 Earlier, Dele Alake defended President Tinubu’s electricity-sector policies, insisting that the administration remained committed to its campaign promise. Alake cited the Electricity Act 2023, the Presidential Metering Initiative, the N4 trillion bond programme, transmission infrastructure projects and ongoing reforms as evidence of the government’s efforts. 

 He also stated that the administration had raised more than ₦1.2 trillion through the first two tranches of the bond programme and that over 1.5 million customers had been metered under the Presidential Metering Initiative in the last three years. The APC campaign council acknowledged that fixing the power sector remained unfinished work but maintained that the administration’s interventions should be assessed alongside measurable progress and the challenges inherited by the government. 

 The exchange between Atiku and the APC campaign council has brought renewed attention to electricity supply as a major issue in Nigeria’s political debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election. While the ruling party points to reforms, funding arrangements and infrastructure projects, Atiku insists that Nigerians should judge the government by the reliability, affordability and accessibility of electricity delivered to consumers. 

 Ultimately, the debate centres on whether ongoing interventions will produce noticeable improvements in power supply and reduce the burden on households and businesses.  

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