Atiku Abubakar Demands Debt Accounting from President Bola Tinubu

Presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress Atiku Abubakar criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu as one of the most ruinous in Nigeria's history. He challenged the president to provide a full accounting of the nation's public debt, which rose from N49.85 trillion in March 2023 to N166.79 trillion by June 30, 2026.

Atiku demanded clarification on specific figures from the Debt Management Office, including N39.25 million in other charges and a N22.5 million charge linked to First Abu Dhabi Bank. He also called for a reconciliation of N19.48 trillion in outstanding Treasury Bills. Citing IMF data and BudgIT figures, he highlighted a projected 2026 deficit of N31.45 trillion and a June 2026 IMF assessment estimating Nigerian poverty at 63 percent.

Atiku argued that the removal of fuel subsidies and naira depreciation have pushed ordinary citizens into deeper economic distress while official claims of recovery remain unverified by the lived reality of rising costs for food, transport, and energy. He demanded an apology from President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress for the resulting hardship.