Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his unfulfilled campaign promise on electricity supply, following the second collapse of Nigeria’s national grid in January 2026.
In a statement shared on his verified X account on Wednesday, titled “No Steady Power in Four Years, No Second Term,” Obi reminded Nigerians of Tinubu’s 2022 pledge: “President Bola Tinubu’s campaign promise in 2022 was clear: ‘If I do not provide steady electricity in my first four years, do not vote for me for a second term.’”
Obi noted that despite this assurance, the grid had already collapsed twice in January alone, adding: “Yet, in January 2026 alone, the national grid has already collapsed twice, and the month is not even over. Last year, it collapsed about twelve times.”
He warned that the recurring failures contradict the administration’s promises and should alarm citizens: “This reality sharply contradicts the promise and should worry every patriotic Nigerian.”
Obi also criticised Tinubu’s frequent foreign trips, pointing out that the president was in Türkiye while domestic challenges persisted. “At the same time, the President is on another foreign trip, this time to Turkey, a country of about 87 million people, roughly a third of Nigeria’s population,” he said.
Drawing comparisons, Obi highlighted the disparity in electricity generation: “Turkey generates and distributes over 120,000 megawatts of electricity, while Nigeria struggles with less than 5% of that capacity. The disparity is both striking and painful.”
He urged Tinubu to focus on Nigeria’s internal problems rather than foreign engagements: “Our appeal is simple: stay at home and confront the nation’s problems. At this rate, Nigerians might soon hear of trips to Palau or Vanuatu while critical issues remain unattended at home.”
Obi further criticised what he described as an excessive focus on the 2027 elections instead of governance: “And yet, our collective preoccupation seems to be the next election, rather than how to secure good governance.”
Concluding, he called on Nigerians to demand accountability and responsible leadership: “We should be joining hands to demand accountability and responsible leadership, and to save Nigerians from the indignity and suffering caused by persistent bad governance.”
