The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended President Bola Tinubu’s assessment of the nation’s poverty levels, attributing Nigeria’s current economic challenges to the 16-year rule of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka clarified the party’s position, asserting that the structural issues currently facing the Nigerian economy were embedded during the PDP’s long tenure. This stance comes as the administration faces mounting pressure regarding the rising cost of living and inflation rates across the country.
In addition to addressing economic claims, the party responded to controversies regarding the recent distribution of SUVs to APC youth leaders. The party maintained that these vehicles are intended for political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections rather than being used as personal rewards for party loyalists.
The APC defended Tinubu’s poverty claim and shifted the blame for the country’s economic state to the previous administration’s management of national resources.
Political mobilisation and the SUV controversy
The decision to provide SUVs to youth leaders has drawn criticism from various quarters, with some observers describing the move as extravagant given the prevailing economic hardship. However, Morka and other party officials have insisted that the vehicles serve a functional purpose in the party’s upcoming electioneering activities.
The controversy over the vehicles arrives at a sensitive time for the ruling party. As the 2027 general elections approach, the APC is intensifying its grassroots organising, a process that includes the deployment of resources to various party wings to ensure party presence during the next electoral cycle.
Critics argue that the distribution of luxury assets during a period of high inflation and food insecurity sends a conflicting message to the electorate. The party’s insistence that these are “campaign vehicles” for mobilisation is an attempt to distance the move from allegations of corruption or the misuse of party funds for individual enrichment.
Nigeria’s economy has been under significant strain following the removal of the fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange windows. These reforms, which are central to President Tinubu’s economic agenda, have led to a sharp increase in transportation and food costs, contributing to the very poverty levels the President has commented on.
By blaming the PDP, the APC is attempting to frame the current administration’s economic policies as necessary corrections to a legacy of mismanagement. This political strategy seeks to redirect public frustration away from current reforms and toward the long-term consequences of past governance.
The opposition PDP has consistently challenged the APC’s handling of the economy, but the debate over economic responsibility and the appropriate use of party resources is expected to intensify as the 2027 election cycle progresses.
Explore more News stories from Business Elites Africa.
