He argued that while the Tinubu government celebrates a marginal improvement of 0.2 percentage points, Nigeria’s poverty rate has snowballed to 63%, affecting an estimated 140 million Nigerians.

The ADC also asked President Tinubu to explain 0.2% GDP growth to the 140 million Nigerians who have sunk into poverty since he came to power; the workers who have watched the value of their salaries disappear; businesses that have struggled with energy costs; and millions who have been forced to reduce the quantity and quality of food on their tables.

“When the President and his party say things are getting better, we expect them to tell us what has improved in the lives of Nigerians. They should tell us how much food their “GDP growth” has put on the tables. They should tell us which bill it has paid. If 0.2% is a mark of success in their books, President Tinubu and APC should tell us what they consider as failure,” the ADC said.

The party said that Uber’s exit after twelve years in Nigeria reflects the increasingly hostile operating environment confronting businesses, particularly the soaring cost of energy and transportation, with the price of fuel rising by as much as 1,700% following the removal of fuel subsidy and devaluation of the naira.

“This is precisely why the ADC Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has proposed the restoration of a targeted fuel subsidy to bring down the cost of fuel, transportation and production,” the party said.

It also cited the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria’s earlier report that 767 manufacturing companies, including 20 iconic global brands, have shut down or ceased operations in Nigeria, while hundreds more are distressed since President Tinubu assumed office in 2024. It listed among the companies that have shut down or scaled down operations in the country to include Microsoft, Jumia and Bolt Food, Pick n Pay, Shoprite, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Sanofi-Aventis, Bayer AG, Procter & Gamble, Unilever and PZ Cussons, among others.

“Therefore, when the President announces that Nigeria has turned the corner, we wonder which corner he is talking about. If indeed the economy is improving, or the slightest hope exists in the minds of those who run these businesses that this APC government can improve the economy, why are they closing shop and moving elsewhere?” ADC asked, citing the example of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), which it said shut down manufacturing in Nigeria after 50 years.

“The painful truth is that Tinubu has turned Nigeria into a graveyard of businesses. Every business that shuts down or pulls out is a vote of no confidence in the Tinubu administration and its capacity to manage the economy. Each exit delivers a blow to the economy. But perhaps, more importantly, each one represents a massive loss of jobs and increased poverty.

“Therefore, when the APC and its government celebrate even the most negligible shift in GDP numbers and flaunt that as evidence to show that things are getting better, they are immediately contradicted by the painful reality that Nigerians are getting poorer and hungrier. Those who had jobs yesterday are not sure how long it will take before their employers close shop, and those earning salaries are struggling even to transport themselves to work,” the party concludes.

ADC reiterated that its presidential candidate’s plan to subsidise the production costs of fuel to make it more affordable will bring down the cost of living, make businesses more profitable, and create jobs across sectors.

Court nullifies Zamfara North APC senatorial primary, orders fresh election
The Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, Zamfara State, has nullified the All Progressives Congress, APC, primary election conducted for the Zamfara North Senatorial District.

The court also ordered the APC to conduct a fresh primary election in the senatorial district within 14 days.

Justice Hassan Dikko delivered the judgment on Monday after hearing and considering the written addresses and arguments adopted by the plaintiffs and defendants.

The judge directed the party to conduct a fresh primary in accordance with the relevant rules within 14 days of the judgment.

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Reacting to the ruling, APC senatorial aspirant Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi welcomed the decision, saying it had restored public confidence in the judiciary.

“I appreciate the judgment. It’s a milestone towards our success. The judiciary has been vindicated; people still have confidence in it,” he said.

Shinkafi had earlier approached the court to challenge the legality of the APC primary election conducted for the Zamfara North Senatorial District.

He added that all activities carried out on the portal were electronically recorded and could be verified through the Commission’s records and audit trail.

“It is therefore possible to establish objectively the history and source of entries relating to any candidate whose name appears on the portal,” Oketola said.

He said the allegation that INEC officials introduced or “smuggled” candidates into the NDC’s list should therefore not be determined through speculation, noting that the electronic and documentary records would establish what transpired.

Oketola added that monitoring of a party primary by INEC officials did not amount to the Commission nominating a candidate for the party.

“Neither does a report made by officials who monitor a primary confer upon the Commission the power to choose a candidate for the political party,” he said.

On the NDC’s specific allegation that INEC officials went behind the party to obtain Form EC9 directly from individual aspirants or candidates and subsequently uploaded their particulars without the party’s authorisation, Oketola described the claim as particularly serious.

He said, however, that to verify the allegation, INEC would examine the relevant records in specific constituencies pointed out by the NDC.

“Rather than make categorical assertions on matters that can readily be established from those records, the Commission will examine the relevant records relating to the constituencies identified by the NDC,” he said.

He also urged the NDC to provide the Commission with evidence and details of any officials allegedly involved in unauthorised interference with its candidate nomination process, promising that such claims would be investigated in accordance with established procedures.

The commission, he stressed, had no institutional interest in the choice of candidates fielded by any political party.

“Its responsibility is to administer the electoral process impartially and in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and applicable Regulations and Guidelines,” he said.

Oketola also reminded political parties of their responsibility to ensure that their nomination processes, internal appeals, submission of candidates and use of the Commission’s candidate nomination portal complied with the law and prescribed timelines.

He assured stakeholders that INEC would continue to handle the candidate nomination process transparently and impartially, adding that legitimate concerns would be addressed on the basis of the Commission’s records and applicable law.