Former presidential candidate of the Labour, Mr Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over Nigeria’s persistent electricity challenges, linking recent developments to what he described as unfulfilled promises on power supply.
Obi made the remarks in a statement shared on Thursday, recalling the President’s campaign pledge ahead of the 2023 election.
“If I don’t give you constant electricity in four years, don’t vote for me for a second term,” Obi quoted Tinubu as saying.
He argued that nearly three years into the administration, electricity supply remained unstable with average generation still below 4,000 megawatts despite higher tariffs, a situation that has continued to draw public concern.
According to him, Nigeria’s electricity consumption remained among the lowest globally, with about 144 kWh per capita compared to Africa’s average of 617 kWh.
Obi also referenced the President’s recent visit to Jos following attacks in Plateau State, where his engagement ended at the airport.
“You have no light here, I fly out in ten minutes,” Obi quoted, describing the remark as reflective of the wider struggles Nigerians face daily.
The development comes despite earlier assurances by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu who had said ongoing reforms in the sector were beginning to yield results.
Speaking at a first-quarter meeting of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry in Lagos on March 26 2026, Adelabu said the government had recorded improvements in generation levels, expressing optimism that the situation would improve within weeks.
“We have also recorded the highest generation levels… our reforms are yielding results,” he said, adding that increased gas supply to power plants would boost electricity output.
But as the debate continues, reactions from Nigerians reflect growing frustration and mixed expectations, with some questioning the pace of progress while others call for patience.
A commenter, KachiMD reacting to the situation, said, “Promised us light, but is very busy generating darkness,” adding that it was troubling that leaders struggle to stay minutes without electricity while citizens endure prolonged outages.
Similarly, another user Tunde, noted that while leaders must be held accountable for their promises, the power sector requires time to fix, stressing that the real concern should be whether there is visible progress.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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