The All Progressives Congress in Lagos State has defended the borrowing policy of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, insisting it is strategic and aimed at funding critical infrastructure, not reckless as alleged by Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Nigeria’s rising debt profile has remained a recurring issue in national discourse. Tinubu’s administration has defended its borrowing as necessary for infrastructure expansion and economic reforms, citing global practices.

However, critics, including opposition figures, argue that mounting debt without visible improvements in living standards worsens Nigeria’s economic challenges.

The APC Spokesman, Mr Seye Oladejo, in a statement titled “Peter Obi’s Borrowing Hypocrisy: Physician, Heal Thyself” on Thursday berated the 2023 Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate’s criticism of Tinubu’s borrowings.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the former Anambra governor had called on accountants to confront Tinubu-Federal Government over what he called “reckless borrowings”.

Oladejo advised Obi to play to his strengths in politics, “as topics bordering on finance, economy, development, and social policy remain his enduring handicap.”

According to him, borrowing under the present administration is strategic, tied to projects and funding of productive sectors.

“First, borrowing is not inherently reckless. What matters is purpose and prudence.

“Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, borrowing is strategic, tied to critical infrastructure, energy, transportation, and productive sectors.

“This is the globally accepted practice-even the most advanced economies borrow to fund growth. Second, Peter Obi has no moral authority to lecture anyone about prudence.

“Nigerians remember that as governor, he left behind unpaid pensions, collapsing infrastructure, and poor human capital indices,” Oladejo said.

He said that Obi had consistently displayed extravagant tendencies, adding that it was a contradiction that he was going about giving sermons on prudent management of resources.

“For someone who flew around the world in private jets during his campaign while sermonising about cutting costs, the contradictions are glaring,” he said.

According to him, unlike Obi’s motivational-speech politics, Tinubu is taking bold, necessary steps to reset the economy.

“Subsidy removal, currency reforms, and targeted borrowing are difficult but inevitable measures to secure Nigeria’s future. This is leadership in action – not empty moralising,” he added

He urged Obi to refrain from commenting on serious matters of finance and governance,” he is out of depth and out of place”.

Oladejo said that Tinubu was building Nigeria’s future, while Obi was busy building sound bites. One is a reformer, the other a motivational speaker. Nigerians know the difference,” he said.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday officially recognised the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress.

This development followed a period of internal restructuring within the party, which culminated in the emergence of new national officers aimed at repositioning the ADC ahead of future electoral contests.

Alongside Mark, other principal officers now officially acknowledged by INEC include Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Mani as National Treasurer, Akibu Dalhatu as National Financial Secretary, and Professor Oserheimen Aigberaodion Osunbor as National Legal Adviser.

With this formal endorsement, the ADC leadership is expected to commence a nationwide reconciliation and mobilisation effort, as the party seeks to strengthen its presence across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has raised concerns over the growing trend of premature political campaigns across the country, describing it as a direct violation of Nigeria’s electoral laws and a threat to democratic governance.

Speaking at a one-day roundtable on the challenges of early political campaigns, held at the Electoral Institute in Abuja on Wednesday, Yakubu highlighted what he described as a “disturbing trend” of political campaigning ahead of scheduled timelines, especially in relation to upcoming off-cycle governorship elections, the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, and the 2027 general election.

He referenced Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which clearly prohibits the commencement of campaigns earlier than 150 days before polling day, and requires all campaign activities to end 24 hours before voting begins.

However, he lamented that political actors often disregard this provision. “Political parties, candidates and their supporters seem to be perpetually in election mood even when the Electoral Commission is yet to release the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for elections.

“Around the country, we have seen outdoor advertising, media campaigns and even rallies promoting various political parties and candidates,” the INEC Chairman noted.

Yakubu warned that these premature activities severely compromise the commission’s ability to enforce campaign finance limits.

“These actions and activities undermine the commission’s ability to track campaign finance limits as politicians, prospective candidates and third-party agents expend large amounts of money that cannot be effectively monitored before the official commencement of campaigns,” he said.

He noted that while Nigerians expect INEC, as the regulator of political parties, to act, the Commission’s powers are constrained by gaps in the legal framework. “The major challenge for the commission is the law itself,” he noted.

Although Section 94(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 imposes a maximum fine of N500,000 for campaigning within 24 hours of an election, Professor Yakubu pointed out that “there is no sanction whatsoever concerning breaches for campaigns earlier than 150 days to an election.

“Here lies the challenge for the commission in dealing with the early campaign.”

He acknowledged that early campaigning is not a new issue, but said the failure of regulatory bodies to address it within existing legal constraints necessitated deeper reflection.

“The seeming inability of the commission and other regulatory agencies to deal with the menace within the ambit of the existing electoral legal framework calls for deep reflection,” Yakubu said.

“With the National Assembly currently reviewing our electoral laws,” Yakubu said, “the commission has also invited the leadership of both the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters.

“I am confident that they will give due consideration to actionable recommendations by experts.”

He also acknowledged the participation of regulatory agencies, including the National Broadcasting Commission, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, expressing optimism that the discussions would yield practical solutions.

The INEC chairman’s remarks came amid rising political activity nationwide, despite the 2027 general election still being more than a year away. Across the country, politicians have been hosting large gatherings, commissioning constituency projects, and holding “empowerment” events—many of which observers say are disguised campaign efforts.

Nigeria operates on a four-year electoral cycle, during which elected officials serve for a renewable term of four years. As general elections are constitutionally mandated to be held every four years, political activities tend to intensify well in advance. In recent election cycles, the build-up has started earlier with each cycle, often turning governance into secondary business as politicians begin to focus more on elections than service delivery.

Historically, early campaigns have also led to increased political tension and division. During the build-up to the 2023 general elections, similar concerns were raised as political rhetoric dominated the national conversation months before INEC officially flagged off campaign activities. Many of those early activities went unchecked due to a lack of punitive measures within the legal framework.

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