Nigerian President Bola Tinubu opened his campaign for a second term at a rally in Kaduna. He blamed opposition politicians for hunger and poverty and defended removing the petrol subsidy amid continuing concern about living costs. Rival Atiku Abubakar rejected the accusation and blamed government policy for hardship. The governing party’s launch places competing accounts of economic responsibility at the centre of its reelection appeal.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu launched his reelection campaign at a rally in Kaduna on 24 October. Addressing supporters of the governing All Progressives Congress, or APC, he asked for another term and backed the party’s candidates at other levels of government. The gathering took place at Ranchers Bees Stadium, also known as Kaduna Township Stadium, in northern Nigeria.[1], [2]
Tinubu accused opposition politicians of creating hunger and poverty and portrayed his government as working to remove those problems. He defended ending the petrol subsidy after taking office in May 2023. His administration has presented removal as a way to cut public spending and tackle alleged corruption, false invoicing and smuggling linked to the subsidy system.[1], [2]
Former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, rejected Tinubu’s accusation through campaign spokesman Phrank Shaibu. He blamed government policies for hardship and noted that the governing party had held power before Tinubu became president. Atiku has proposed restoring the subsidy. High food prices, inflation and weaker purchasing power remain concerns in the country.[1], [2]
Vice-President Kashim Shettima defended Tinubu’s relationships with northern Nigerian political leaders. He recalled his support for Atiku’s presidential candidacy in 2007, Nuhu Ribadu in 2011, and Muhammadu Buhari’s successful campaigns in 2015 and 2019. Tinubu and Atiku later became electoral rivals. Shettima also sought another term for Kaduna Governor Uba Sani. He highlighted educational institutions in the state, including universities in Kachia and Zaria and vocational institutions in Rigachikun, Soba and Samaru Kataf. He said more than 4,000 people had graduated from those institutions and cited student support through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.[1], [2]
Kaduna Governor Uba Sani, government secretary George Akume, ministers, governors and lawmakers attended the rally. Tinubu thanked Kaduna voters for supporting him at the previous election, pointed to regular salary payments and praised projects by governors from his party. He promised prosperity, continuity and development in a second term, as the party formally opened its campaign to retain the presidency.[1], [2]
