Abuja – Campaigning for Nigeria’s January 2027 presidential election began Wednesday, putting President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term under intense voter scrutiny. The central question is whether Nigerians are better off after more than a decade of All Progressives Congress (APC) rule.
Economic reforms and household impact
Tinubu’s administration has pursued aggressive economic policies, including ending a long‑standing fuel subsidy and devaluing the naira twice. While these moves have attracted investor interest and higher government revenues, they have also triggered a sharp rise in living costs. A risk‑assessment firm cited a voter tracker showing nearly 80% of Nigerians believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, with 45% naming economic hardship and insecurity as top concerns.
At Abuja’s Garki market, butcher Abdullahi Sani described how soaring prices have slashed demand, saying he once sold six goats a day and now struggles to sell one or two, making it hard to feed his family.
Debt, growth and living standards
World Bank data indicate GDP per capita fell 53% from $2,586 in 2015 to $1,224 in 2026, reflecting a decade‑long erosion of household prosperity. Nigeria’s debt burden has ballooned more than twelve‑fold to 159.35 trillion naira (about $117 billion) by March 2026, with debt‑service costs projected at $11.6 billion this year—almost half of expected revenue.
Security challenges
Security remains a major voter concern. Amnesty International reports over 10,000 deaths from armed groups and numerous mass abductions of schoolchildren since Tinubu took office. Violence persists across the northwest, southeast and central regions, with banditry, separatist unrest and kidnappings for ransom widespread.
“For ordinary Nigerians, this election is fundamentally about survival, security, and whether families can afford food,” said Auwal Musa Rafsanjani of Transparency International Nigeria.
Opposition outlook
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former governor Peter Obi are positioning themselves as alternatives to the APC’s record, emphasizing economic hardship and insecurity. Analysts note that low voter turnout could benefit the incumbent, while a divided opposition may also work in Tinubu’s favor.
The election will likely hinge on whether voters believe the promised long‑term gains outweigh the short‑term pain they have experienced under Tinubu’s reforms.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
