The spokesperson of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of worsening the living conditions of Nigerians through its policies, while APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka has blamed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for contributing to the country’s economic challenges.
The two party spokespersons traded accusations during an appearance on News Central’s Breakfast Central on Thursday, as political parties prepare for the 2027 general election.
Abdullahi criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, arguing that its policies had deepened the economic and social difficulties facing Nigerians. He called on the government to acknowledge its shortcomings and reconsider its approach.
He compared the administration’s economic reforms to an attempt to repair a pothole that ultimately leaves the entire road in worse condition.
“What they tried to do in the last three is like trying to fill a pothole, and in the process they end up leaving the economy in a ditch,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC spokesman maintained that government policies should be judged by their actual effects on citizens’ welfare and livelihoods rather than official claims of success.
He said there was nothing wrong with a government admitting that its policies had failed to deliver the expected results, adding that the consequences of the APC’s decisions were evident in the economy, society and security situation.
Abdullahi also questioned the clarity of the ruling party’s Renewed Hope agenda, arguing that ordinary Nigerians continued to experience worsening living conditions without a convincing explanation of how the administration intended to address their problems.
“Nigeria is the capital to the largest number of poor people, and all you hear them is talking about this Renewed Hope agenda and you ask them, what is this Renewed Hope? They cannot come up with any articulated explanation,” he said.
However, Morka dismissed the ADC spokesman’s criticism, accusing the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, of bearing significant responsibility for Nigeria’s economic difficulties.
He argued that Atiku’s record in government undermined his credibility to criticise the current administration.
“Let me make clear that my good friend speaks for a candidate who is easily the most critical actor in the economic sabotage of this country,” Morka said.
The APC spokesman further alleged that the administration in which Atiku served as vice-president mishandled public resources and weakened the country’s economic foundations.
He specifically accused the former vice-president and his former administration of squandering $16 billion allocated to electricity projects, claiming that successive governments had been left to address problems inherited from previous administrations.
According to Morka, the APC government was working to resolve economic challenges that Atiku had helped create during his time in office.
“When a man like that comes along to mount this sort of very cosmetic, emotional critique of a government that is trying to solve problems that he principally created, please, my dear brother, don’t pontificate,” he said.
Morka insisted that Atiku’s past performance in government should be considered when evaluating his criticism of Tinubu’s administration, reinforcing the APC’s position that previous governments contributed significantly to the problems the country faces today.