The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has again taken aim at President Bola Tinubu, urging Nigerians to judge his administration by its delivery on electricity and make their decision in the next election accordingly.
Writing via his X handle on Saturday, Obi revisited a campaign statement credited to Tinubu, where the president reportedly tied his second-term ambition to his ability to improve power supply across the country.
“If I don’t give you constant electricity in four years, don’t vote for me for a second term,” Obi quoted the president as saying.
Obi argued that developments in the power sector since 2023 suggest that the promise has not been fulfilled. He noted that electricity generation, which stood at over 4,000 megawatts when Tinubu assumed office, has since dropped below that level on average, while consumers are now paying higher tariffs.
He described the situation as evidence of failed expectations, adding that the gap between promises and reality continues to widen. To further support his position, Obi pointed to Nigeria’s low electricity consumption rate, which he said remains significantly below the continental average.
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“When he took office in 2023, Nigeria had a power supply of over 4,000 megawatts and lower tariffs. Today, the electricity power supply is less than 4,000 megawatts on the average, and Nigerians are paying higher tariffs.
“Nigeria currently has the lowest per capita electricity consumption in the world, with a rate below 30% of the African average. Africa’s average is 617kwh, Nigeria’s is 144 kWh. This means that Nigerians consume least electricity than other Africans,” Obi said.
The former Anambra governor also referenced a recent visit by the president to Jos on April 2, 2026, where Tinubu reportedly made a brief stopover at the airport.
According to Obi, the president cited poor electricity supply at the location as the reason for limiting his stay.
“You have no light here — I fly out in ten minutes,” Obi quoted Tinubu as saying.
Obi used the remark to question the responsiveness of the leadership to the daily struggles of Nigerians, many of whom face prolonged blackouts.
“At a time when Nigerians are enduring days without power, our leaders cannot even stay a few minutes without it,” he stated.
He concluded by calling on citizens to prioritise competence and accountability when choosing their leaders, stressing that the electricity crisis reflects broader governance challenges.
“Now is the time to stop incompetent leaders — those lacking the capacity and compassion — who prioritise their own comfort over the well-being of the people and make empty promises,” he added.