By George Mgbeleke

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has pushed back against the All Progressives Congress (APC) over its defence of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, which accused the opposition party of inciting Nigerians against the government.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party rejected the accusation of incitement, insisting that the data showing Nigeria’s poverty rate has risen to 63 percent, up from about 50 percent before the removal of petrol subsidy, and the report showing that 93 percent of Nigerians believe the country is heading in the wrong direction are not opposition talking points, but publicly available reports that highlight the human cost of the administration’s economic policies and reflect the views of ordinary Nigerians who are living in hell under the APC government.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) takes note of the ruling party, APC’s response to our earlier statement on the rising poverty figures under the Bola Tinubu-led government. But instead of addressing the clear evidence that more Nigerians are falling into poverty under this government, the ruling party has chosen to attack the opposition and dismiss the lived realities of millions of citizens. Facts, however, cannot be dismissed by press statements.

The independent report that triggered this debate shows that Nigeria’s poverty rate has risen to 63 percent, up from about 50 percent before the removal of petrol subsidy. This means that tens of millions of additional Nigerians have been pushed into poverty in the period since the administration’s failed economic policies were introduced. The APC claims Nigerians support its reforms, yet the data says otherwise.

Independent surveys show that 93 percent of Nigerians believe the country is heading in the wrong direction. Eighty-eight percent describe the national economy as bad, while 74 percent say their personal living conditions are poor. These are not opposition talking points. They are the views of Nigerians themselves, APC members included.

The APC also insists that the hardship Nigerians are experiencing is “transient.” But the numbers tell a different story. Recent surveys show that 82 percent of Nigerians report going without enough food at least once in the past year, 82 percent have gone without medical care, 79 percent have gone without cooking fuel, 74 percent have gone without clean water, and 95 percent have gone without a cash income at some point during the year. These figures point not to temporary discomfort, but to widespread and deepening economic distress.

The APC speaks proudly of macroeconomic indicators, but Nigerians live in a real economy where fuel prices have surged by almost 500 percent, from about N255 per litre in May 2023 when Tinubu came into office, to around N1,500 per litre today in many parts of this country. This is pushing up transport costs and driving food prices beyond the reach of millions of households.

The APC claims that the money previously spent on fuel subsidy, which should amount to roughly N6.4 trillion in savings last year alone, is now being redirected to “vital sectors” such as healthcare and social development. However, it is on record that only N36 million, just about 0.02 percent of the capital budget, was actually released for capital projects in 2025 for Nigeria’s entire federal healthcare sector. Nigerians are therefore left to ask a simple question: if the subsidy savings are truly being redirected to critical sectors, where exactly is all the money going? Why are local contractors not paid? Why are the universities still poorly equipped?

The human cost of Tinubu and the APC’s failed policies is even more evident in the food and agriculture sector. Latest reports have it that out of more than 150 rice mills across Nigeria, nearly 90 have shut down operations, while the remaining mills are operating at between 30 and 70 percent of their installed capacity, largely because the Tinubu administration’s policies have encouraged import dependency.

Official data from the National Bureau of Statistics show that Nigeria’s food import bill has jumped from N3.83 trillion in 2023, when President Tinubu came into office, to N7.65 trillion today, an increase of N3.82 trillion, or about 100 percent. This shows that instead of strengthening our local agricultural sector and protecting Nigerian farmers, the policies of the APC government are undermining domestic production and putting thousands of Nigerian farmers and processors out of business.

Economic reforms must ultimately be judged by their outcomes. When poverty rises from 50 percent to 63 percent, when nine out of ten Nigerians say the country is on the wrong path, and when millions struggle to afford basic necessities, it is clear that something is fundamentally wrong.

Nigerians do not expect economic lectures or political attacks on the opposition. They expect policies that make their lives better. The APC may dismiss these concerns, but Nigerians cannot dismiss the realities of the APC’s failures that they confront every day.
Until the APC-led Tinubu government begins to measure success by the well-being of its citizens, the gap between official claims and the lived reality of Nigerians will only continue to widen.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

It was historic and unprecedented,as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bayelsa State Chapter, held its State Congress in Yenagoa.

The congress unanimously and harmoniously adopted the leadership of Barr. George Alabh Turnah, as the State Chairman of the party.While Mr. Tony Gabriel emerged as Deputy Chairman, as Hon. Ato Alfrede Ebibokaye was adopted as the State Secretary.

Other members of the State Working Committee that were affirmed included Hon. Mietokumo Opuokoni, Assistant Secretary; Hon. Biobelemoye Igoniwari, Treasurer; Hon. Abrakasa Ebiegebei, Assistant Treasurer; Hon. Erenpakaomo Eke-Siff, Financial Secretary; Hon. Amgbare Flupower, Assistant Financial Secretary; Hon. Godspower Toruokorie, Organizing Secretary; Hon. Ogbentari Okere, Assistant Organizing Secretary; Hon. Ikaebimo Mark, Publicity Secretary; Hon. Smart Gboribie, Assistant Publicity Secretary; Barr. Awudumapu Agorodi, Esq., Legal Adviser; Barr. Effort Kai, Esq., Assistant Legal Adviser; Hon. Sola Yoko Amain, Auditor; Hon. Dimaro Fidelix Enakpotari, Assistant Auditor; Hon. Nicholas Eferebo, Youth Leader; Hon. Azikwe Isau, Assistant Youth Leader; Mrs. Evelyn Bolouebi Odi, Woman Leader; and Mrs. Wolisi Kosioma, Assistant Woman Leader.

Another major highlight at the epoch making event was that the PDP in Bayelsa State also commissioned its new Party Secretariat located before Watgo Filling Station along the Express Road in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Party stakeholders noted that the new party secretariat will enhance the smooth running of the party’s administrative and political activities, positioning the party for greater coordination and mobilization. They expressed optimism that the development will further strengthen the party and lead it to victory in both the national and state elections come 2027.

Stakeholders also described the congress as peaceful, free, and fair, expressing confidence that the newly elected executives will strengthen the party’s structure and further consolidate its grassroots support ahead of future political engagements.

Our correspondent who monitored the exercise reported that the atmosphere remained calm and well-coordinated, with party members displaying unity and cooperation throughout the congress.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has commended individuals and institutions including the six presidential candidates and the Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE) for their efforts towards actualising a peaceful and seamless transition of leadership in the Ijaw National Congress (INC).

He gave the commendation during a stakeholders meeting at the weekend in Government House, Yenagoa, where all the candidates gunning for the INC presidency agreed to withdraw all subsisting litigations concerning the Ijaw National Congress election.

Senator Diri, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, also expressed gratitude to the Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Bolade Igali, the Chairman and members of the INC National Electoral Committee and other stakeholders who contributed to the resolution reached at the meeting.

Drawing an analogy from the scriptures, particularly First Kings Chapter 3, he likened the unanimous agreement of the candidates to withdraw all pending court cases to the decision of the true mother of the disputed baby who pleaded with King Solomon not to cut the child into two.

According to the Bayelsa helmsman, the resolution reflects the enthusiasm, love and patriotic fervour in all the presidential candidates to move Ijaw nation forward.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the meeting, the candidates including High Chief MacDonald Igbadiwe who secured the injunction from a Port Harcourt High Court stopping the INC Elections billed for last weekend, confirmed the agreement and pledged commitment towards the peaceful emergence of the next President of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organization.

Also speaking, the President of Ijaw National Congress, Professor Benjamin Okaba , expressed delight at the outcome of the meeting, pointing out that the resolution would enable the National Executive Council of the INC and other critical stakeholders to settle all grey areas within the 30-day window given by the convention.

He said: “Today is a culmination of several efforts being made by myself and some members of the INC Exco to ensure that the transition moves on smoothly, and we will get to the appropriate destination.

“The meeting which was convened by His Excellency, the Governor of Bayelsa State in his capacity as the Governor General of the Ijaw nation was very productive. All the six presidential candidates were in attendance and have agreed to withdraw all court cases.

‘I want to assure you that we are going to explore the 30-day window given to us by the Convention to ensure that the election holds. All appropriate organs of the INC will start work immediately, while we monitor the processes of the withdrawal.’

In attendance at the meeting were all the INC presidential candidates, the Chairman of PANDEF, Ambassador Godknows Igali, the Commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs, Chief Godspower Oporomor, his Information counterpart, Mrs Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, the Chairman of Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers and CITRE, His Royal Majesty King Bubaraye Dakolo, the Chairman, INC Electoral Committee, Retired Supreme Court Justice Francis Tabai, his vice and the Pere of Tarakiri Clan, Dr Seiyifa Koroye, among others.