APC Took Nigeria Deeper Into Crisis, ADC Fires Back at Shettima
The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADCPCC) has fired back at Vice President Kashim Shettima over his claim that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rescued Nigeria from the brink of economic collapse, accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) of taking the country deeper into crisis.
The ADC campaign council argued that Shettima’s reference to Nigeria heading towards “Caracas” before Tinubu assumed office amounted to an indictment of the eight-year administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, which was also elected on the APC platform.
Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Kola Ologbondiyan, stated this in a statement issued on Sunday.
Ologbondiyan accused the Vice President of attempting to rewrite the recent economic and political history of the country while defending the Tinubu administration.
He said if Nigeria was truly heading towards economic collapse under Buhari, as Shettima reportedly claimed, the APC should accept responsibility for the conditions that existed during its eight years in power.
“Vice President Shettima’s statement is self-indicting. If Nigeria was heading to Caracas under Buhari, it means Buhari and the APC deceived Nigerians for eight years.
“And if that is the case, why should Nigerians believe Tinubu, who is of the same APC stock and was a major promoter and defender of the Buhari administration?” he queried.
According to Ologbondiyan, the APC cannot defend its past record when convenient and distance itself from it whenever Nigerians demand answers over the current economic situation.
He recalled that Tinubu, while campaigning during the Buhari administration, defended the government and promised to build on its legacy if elected president.
The ADC spokesman maintained that Nigerians viewed the APC as one political organisation, regardless of the individual occupying the presidency at any given time.
“But Nigerians do not know Buhari as an individual; Nigerians know APC. It is the APC, on whose platform President Tinubu is seeking a second term, that has failed Nigerians for almost 12 years and is undeserving of another four years,” he said.
Ologbondiyan also attacked the APC administration over what he described as worsening conditions in infrastructure, electricity supply, public institutions and household purchasing power.
He said the priority of ordinary Nigerians was no longer political arguments but the ability to afford food and other basic necessities.
“Our roads are no longer motorable, there is no electricity, our institutions have collapsed. But what concerns ordinary Nigerians today is food, food and food, not baseless propaganda,” he said.
The ADC spokesman further accused the Tinubu administration of worsening economic hardship through rising inflation, naira depreciation, unemployment, insecurity and the increasing cost of living.
Reacting to Shettima’s reference to “Caracas”, Ologbondiyan said Nigerians were already facing severe economic difficulties.
“Nigerians are not heading to Caracas; under the APC, Nigerians are already living the Caracas experience in their own country,” he said.
The campaign council also questioned the Vice President’s reported promise to deploy 10,600 electric tricycles, 300 buses and electric taxis under an e-logistics programme.
Ologbondiyan urged Nigerians to assess the latest promise against previous assurances by the administration, including the pledge that transportation costs would decline from October 1, 2026.
He said the government should be judged by tangible results and relief delivered to citizens rather than by the announcement of new programmes.
The ADC campaign council urged the APC leadership to acknowledge the economic challenges confronting Nigerians instead of what it described as an attempt to rewrite the country’s recent political and economic history.
It also reiterated its position that the ADC offers an alternative ahead of the 2027 elections, promising to focus on reducing the burden of living costs, restoring economic security and rebuilding public confidence.
