Atiku Abubakar and PDP Demand Bola Tinubu Resign
Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party called for President Bola Tinubu's resignation, citing a severe cost-of-living crisis and failed economic policies.
Opposition leaders and political parties launched a coordinated attack on President Bola Tinubu on October 1, coinciding with Nigeria's 66th Independence anniversary. Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress, called for the president to leave office during a State of the Nation address, asserting that the administration is presiding over the country's worst cost-of-living crisis.
Abubakar criticized the government's budgetary management and the removal of fuel subsidies, which he claims have made food, healthcare, and transportation unaffordable. During a press conference in Abuja, he highlighted that some educational institutions have raised tuition fees by over 400%. He rejected the president's claim that Nigeria has entered an "age of prosperity," arguing that economic growth figures do not translate to improved daily lives for citizens.
Simultaneously, the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party rejected the president's Independence Day message. The party cited National Bureau of Statistics data showing food inflation at 19.57 percent in August 2026 and accused the administration of implementing "reckless" economic policies. The PDP characterized the presidency as a force pursuing citizens through a "Red Sea of economic pain" and stated that Nigerians will seek new leadership in the 2027 general elections.
