TINUBU MUST STAY’: SUPPORTERS LIST ECONOMIC GAINS, REJECT ATIKU’S CALL
Supporters of President Bola Tinubu under the Tinubu Must Stay (TMS) group have defended his administration’s record, citing economic growth, student loans and compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives in response to opposition calls for his removal ahead of the 2027 elections.
The group reacted after former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar declared that “Tinubu must go” during his Independence Day address on October 1, 2026.
In a statement signed by its National Convener, Ibrahim Uba, TMS argued that the administration had recorded measurable progress despite the economic difficulties Nigerians continue to face.
On the economy, the group cited National Bureau of Statistics figures showing that Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 4.23 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025.
It also referenced inflation figures, which showed that headline inflation eased slightly from 15.43 per cent in July to 15.39 per cent in August. However, the group acknowledged that slower inflation does not mean prices have fallen, noting that households are still experiencing rising living costs.
On education, TMS highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which reportedly had disbursed more than ₦282 billion to over 1.5 million students by June 2026. It also cited the 3 Million Technical Talent programme, which had trained more than 160,000 fellows across three cohorts.
The group further pointed to the government’s CNG initiative, stating that more than 120,000 vehicles had been converted, supported by over 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 refuelling stations. It nevertheless acknowledged that the key challenge was translating the expansion into widespread reductions in transportation costs.
On housing, the supporters said more than 10,000 housing units had been delivered through the Renewed Hope Housing Programme and Federal Housing Authority projects, with over 300,000 jobs projected or associated with the programme.
While defending the administration, TMS admitted that the removal of petrol subsidies and foreign exchange reforms had imposed significant costs on households, particularly through higher transportation, energy and living expenses.
The group said its position was not to dismiss Nigeria’s economic difficulties but to ensure that the government’s performance was assessed using documented outcomes alongside unresolved challenges.
The exchange highlights the growing political debate over Tinubu’s economic policies as opposition parties and supporters of the administration intensify their arguments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
