KADUNA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has launched his campaign for a second term, defending his government’s economic reforms as Nigerians continue to grapple with high living costs ahead of the January 16, 2027, presidential election.

Tinubu formally opened his re-election campaign on Saturday, October 24, at a rally in Kaduna attended by thousands of supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The president urged voters to give him another term, promising that the country’s economic difficulties could be overcome.

The election is expected to focus heavily on the economy and national security. Tinubu’s main challengers include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, who finished second and third respectively in the 2023 presidential election.

Economic Reforms Under Scrutiny

Since taking office in 2023, Tinubu has removed the petrol subsidy, allowed the naira to weaken through foreign-exchange reforms and introduced other measures intended to improve public finances and attract investment.

Although the policies have been credited with improvements in some financial indicators, they have also contributed to severe pressure on household budgets. Petrol prices reached approximately ₦1,400 per litre in Lagos and Abuja in September, with prices reportedly climbing to ₦1,500 in parts of northern Nigeria.

At the Kaduna rally, Tinubu rejected criticism from opposition politicians over hunger and poverty, blaming previous political leaders and his rivals for the country’s difficulties.

“They created the hunger. They created the poverty. We are trying to eradicate it,” he told supporters.

Phrank Shaibu, a spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s campaign, criticised the president’s remarks, arguing that Tinubu was avoiding responsibility for the economic situation.

Security Remains a Major Election Issue

Beyond economic hardship, insecurity remains a significant challenge for the administration. Armed banditry and kidnappings continue to affect parts of north-western Nigeria, while an Islamist insurgency that began 17 years ago persists in the north-east, where militants have continued attacking military positions.

Tinubu also enters the campaign with substantial political backing. His camp says he has the support of 32 of Nigeria’s 36 state governors, providing the APC with an extensive political network. However, such endorsements do not automatically guarantee electoral victories in individual states.

The north is expected to be an important battleground, with Atiku seeking to mobilise his established support base in the region.

Tinubu has indicated that he will personally attend campaign rallies in 12 states rather than all 36, saying he must continue to focus on governing. His party’s proposed schedule includes a final major rally in Lagos on January 9, one week before the presidential election.

As the campaign progresses, voters will weigh the administration’s economic record, the cost of living and its response to insecurity against the promises made by opposition candidates.

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