Last week, Rotimi Amaechi, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, described President Bola Tinubu’s removal of the petrol subsidy as “reckless” and declared that only a madman would vote for the president in the 2027 general election.

Amaechi made the remarks at an ADC town hall meeting in Edo State, where he urged Nigerians to reject Tinubu, accusing his administration’s economic policies of worsening hardship across the country.

“I read on social media that it is in 2027 that we will know how many madmen we have in Nigeria. It is only a madman that can vote for Tinubu. If you are not mad, then Tinubu should not win here,” he said.

The statement attracted criticism from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who, speaking to journalists after a meeting with FCT area council chairmen in Abuja, described Amaechi’s remarks as “irresponsible and inciting” and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sanction him.

While some Nigerians have argued that Amaechi’s remarks are incendiary and violates the principle of freedom of choice as the electorates are at liberty to choose whoever they want to lead them, the question remains: will any sane, patriotic and sincere Nigerian gleefully advocate for Tinubu’s return to office for another four years given his performance in all spheres of our national life since assumption of office?

On what basis will Tinubu mount the rostrum and ask for another four years in Aso Rock?

Let us examine just two issues: fuel prices and electricity supply.

During his presidential campaign in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on January 25, 2023, Tinubu assured Nigerians that petrol prices would fall under his leadership.

Speaking in Yoruba, he told the crowd that although people were predicting that petrol prices would rise to ₦200 or ₦500 per litre, Nigerians should relax because his government would crash the prices.

“The great Nigerian youths, the great Nigerian students, the confident Nigerian youths. This is a revolution. This election is a revolution. They are plotting, but they will fail. They said fuel prices will increase and reach N200/N500 per litre. Go and relax, we will crash the prices,” he said.

Yet, on the day of his inauguration on May 29, 2023, Tinubu announced that the petrol subsidy was gone. The announcement triggered an immediate increase in fuel prices, with far-reaching consequences for transportation, food prices, production costs and the general cost of living. The situation has gone from bad to worse with the government clueless as to how to ameliorate the sufferings of the masses.

In a recent post on X, former Nigerian Bar Association president,  Olisa Agbakoba highlighted the scale of the increase, stating that petrol sold for about ₦238 per litre when the subsidy ended, rose to approximately ₦770 a year later and now costs as much as ₦1,400 per litre. He argued that petrol should sell at N400 per litre.

The government has repeatedly argued that subsidy removal was necessary to ease the pressure on public finances, eliminate market distortions and free up resources for development. However, it has failed to acknowledge that the removal by Tinubu was hastily done without making adequate plans to cushion the pain.

A policy’s economic rationale does not exempt its architects from accountability for its consequences, particularly when its implementation imposes severe hardship on citizens. Where is the evidence that the benefits of subsidy removal have translated into a meaningful improvement in ordinary people’s lives?

Now, with another election approaching, the government has announced a 30-day petrol discount through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, prioritising public transport operators under the arrangement.

But how much difference can a temporary discount make against a sustained rise in living costs? Nigerians need durable solutions, not short-term interventions that offer momentary relief while leaving the underlying crisis unresolved.

Fuel prices are not the only test of Tinubu’s record. Electricity supply provides another troubling measure of the distance between campaign promises and governance.

During his presidential campaign in December 2022, Tinubu promised Nigerians reliable electricity, declaring that they should not re-elect him if he failed to deliver.

“Whichever way, by all means necessary, you will have electricity, and you will not pay for estimated bill anymore. A promise made will be a promise kept. If I don’t keep the promise and I come for a second time, don’t vote for me. Unless I give you adequate reasons why I couldn’t deliver,” he said.

That was an unequivocal commitment. Nigerians were entitled to expect measurable progress towards stable electricity, alongside an end to unfair estimated billing.

Instead, persistent power supply problems continue to burden households and businesses. Companies spend heavily on generators, small businesses struggle with operating costs, and families contend with the additional expense of alternative power sources.

The government’s handling of the electricity crisis has also attracted criticism. In April 2024, former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu reportedly argued that Nigerians wasted electricity by leaving freezers and air conditioners running for days because electricity tariffs were too cheap. He has since apologised for that gaffe.

In September 2026, his successor, Joseph Tegbe, reportedly said some consumers were asking him to slow down improvements in electricity supply because their freezers were working too well and freezing everything solid.

If these remarks are accurately reported, they raise serious questions about the government’s understanding of the frustration citizens face. In 2026, Nigerians are not asking for much in terms of electricity. All they are asking for reliable supply, affordable tariffs and an end to a system in which they are made to pay for electricity they do not receive.

After making such a clear campaign promises and failing to deliver, why will any sane person reward you with another vote? As opposition leader, Tinubu asked Nigerians to vote out the then ruling party, PDP for failing to deliver the gains of democracy. Why should he be rewarded with votes having failed to do what he accused others of not doing?

These are only two issues among the many Nigerians will weigh in 2027. They are also issues that directly affect the cost of living, economic productivity and the dignity of ordinary citizens.

I am not justifying Amaechi’s choice of language. It may be provocative, and political debate should not require anyone to question the sanity of voters who hold a different view. Nigerians who support Tinubu are entitled to their political choices, just as his critics are entitled to demand accountability.

However, he is just alarmed that how can any mentally stable see all these failures and will still queue in the rain or sun to give their mandate to Tinubu for another four years? If Tinubu promised cheaper petrol but Nigerians have endured a dramatic increase in its price, and promised reliable electricity but millions continue to struggle with erratic supply, what compelling evidence of progress should persuade voters to renew his mandate?

On a final note, I must commend Daniel Bwala for admitting that Tinubu’s reforms have pushed many Nigerians into poverty. It takes great guys to publicly say that especially when his colleague, Bayo Onanuga gleefully said he is visually impaired to see the level of hunger Nigerians are complaining about.

Like the late activist and Afenifere spokesman Yinka Odumakin said, “For us, we have no other country. Even if you do not support the government, you will not say that the country should be destroyed. Every day that we spend under bad conditions is not a plus for anybody. Any day that we spend under good condition is a plus for all of us. We will be happy if they get it right”. Yes, i will be happy if the Tinubu administration get things right but morning shows the day. In other words, if a Sunday is going to be great, you will start seeing the signs from Saturday. The signs are not there for now.

Akinsuyi, former group politics editor of the Daily Independent, is a member of the Society of Editors, United Kingdom. He can be reached via shabydayo@gmail.com