Obi criticises Tinubu over failure to fulfil stable electricity promise

The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over what he described as the failure to fulfil a key campaign promise on electricity supply, following repeated collapses of Nigeria’s national power grid.

Obi in a post on his verified Facebook account recalled a statement made by Tinubu during the 2022 presidential campaign, in which the President said: “If I do not provide steady electricity in my first four years, do not vote for me for a second term.”

He noted that the national grid collapsed twice in January 2026 alone, with the month yet to end, adding that the grid reportedly collapsed about 12 times in 2025.

According to Obi, the persistent power failures contradict the promise made by the President and should be a source of concern to Nigerians.

He also drew attention to the President’s recent foreign trip to Turkey, contrasting Nigeria’s power generation capacity with that of the European country. Obi stated that Turkey, with a population of about 87 million people, generates and distributes over 120,000 megawatts of electricity, while Nigeria continues to struggle with less than five per cent of that output.

The former Anambra State governor urged the President to prioritise addressing domestic challenges, particularly the electricity crisis, rather than embarking on frequent foreign travels.

He warned that continued focus on external engagements while critical national issues persist could deepen public frustration and hardship.

Obi further expressed concern that national attention appears to be shifting prematurely towards the next general election instead of demanding effective governance and accountability.

He called on Nigerians to unite in holding leaders accountable, stressing that sustained poor governance continues to impose hardship and indignity on citizens.

The Labour Party leader concluded by reiterating his belief in the possibility of national renewal, declaring that a “New Nigeria is Possible”.