The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the state of electricity supply in the country, referencing a campaign promise made ahead of the last general election.
In a post shared on X on Friday, Obi recalled Tinubu’s 2023 campaign statement in which he said, “If I don’t give you constant electricity in four years, don’t vote for me for a second term.”
Obi argued that the current situation in the power sector falls short of that pledge. According to him, Nigeria had over 4,000 megawatts of electricity supply when Tinubu assumed office in 2023, but now records an average below that level, while electricity tariffs have increased.
He further highlighted Nigeria’s low electricity consumption, stating that the country has one of the lowest per capita rates globally. “Nigeria currently has the lowest per capita electricity consumption in the world, with a rate below 30% of the African average. Africa’s average is 617kWh, Nigeria’s is 144 kWh. This means that Nigerians consume the least electricity compared to other Africans,” he wrote.
Obi also referenced the President’s recent visit to Jos, Plateau State, where Tinubu made a brief stopover at the airport to meet victims of an attack. He quoted the President as saying, “You have no light here, I fly out in ten minutes,” adding that the remark underscored the severity of power challenges in the country.
Describing the situation as a reflection of unfulfilled promises, Obi said, “At a time when Nigerians are enduring days without power, our leaders cannot even stay a few minutes without it.”
He concluded by calling for greater accountability in leadership, urging Nigerians to reject what he described as “incompetent leaders who lack the capacity and compassion to prioritise the well-being of the people.”
The remarks add to ongoing political debates over governance and infrastructure performance as the country gradually looks ahead to the 2027 general elections.