The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said President Bola Tinubu’s reported 30 per cent approval rating shows that many Nigerians are unhappy with his administration ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said rising food prices, unemployment and insecurity have made life harder for citizens across the country.

The party referred to a survey by Eagle Badger Data Analytics (EBDA), which claimed that only 30.2 per cent of Nigerians approve of Tinubu’s performance, while 47.5 per cent disapprove.

According to the ADC, “30 per cent approval is not a sign of success; it is a mark of total failure.”

The party added that nearly seven out of every 10 Nigerians are either dissatisfied or unconvinced about the direction of the country under the current administration.

The statement said many Nigerians are struggling with the rising cost of living, as families can no longer afford basic food items, transport fares, rent and school fees.

It also claimed that food prices have risen by more than 90 per cent since May 2023, while overall prices have increased by about 80 per cent.

“The government continues to celebrate macroeconomic statistics, but Nigerians do not eat statistics. They eat food,” the statement said.

The ADC further accused the government of failing to tackle insecurity, saying many farmers still cannot safely access their farms, while attacks by bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups continue in parts of the country.

The opposition party argued that after three years in office, the Tinubu administration can no longer blame previous governments for the country’s problems.

“Leadership is measured by outcomes, not excuses,” the statement added.

The ADC said the survey should serve as a warning ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that Nigerians want better leadership focused on economic recovery, job creation and security.

Dino Melaye, a former Kogi West Senator, has commended former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on his emergence as the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Melaye likened Atiku’s victory in the ADC’s presidential primary to Arsenal’s recent success in the English Premier League.

In a post on X, Melaye wrote: “Boss, you did it just like Arsenal.”

Tunde Ogbeha, who was in charge of the ADC presidential primary election, announced on Wednesday night that Atiku won the election.

Ogbeha said Atiku got 1,846,370 votes, winning against two other candidates, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen and Rotimi Amaechi.

Amaechi received 504,117 votes, whereas Hayatu-Deen got 177,120 votes.

Atiku will be aiming for the presidency for the sixth time in 2027.

He has run for president three times, appearing on the ballot in 2007, 2019, and 2023.

On May 19, Arsenal celebrated winning its first English Premier League title in 22 years after Manchester City tied 1-1 with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, allowing Arsenal to secure the championship.

Activist lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam, on Friday said the first runner-up in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary, Rotimi Amaechi, should be grateful to Peter Obi for leaving the party before the primaries.

Idam said Amaechi would have ended up in third position and suffered a more humbling defeat if Obi had remained a member of the ADC and participated in the presidential primary election.

He made the remark while stating that Amaechi and former President Goodluck Jonathan should confess their greed and ingratitude to nature.

Amaechi came second behind the winner and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the just-concluded presidential primary election.

However, in a statement he signed, the activist lawyer said: “There was no surprise in the outcome of the ADC’s presidential primaries. As anticipated, Atiku emerged as the candidate.

“What would truly have been surprising was Amaechi securing the ticket. Deep down, I doubt he genuinely expected victory himself, except by choosing self-deception. Even without spending a kobo to induce delegates, Atiku’s victory would still likely have been a landslide.

“It was a predictable outcome from the very beginning. Amaechi should, in fact, be grateful to Obi for leaving the party before the primaries. Otherwise, his defeat would have been even more humbling, as he may have ended up in a distant third position.

“Now, history will fairly record that he contested for the presidency twice and came second on both occasions, without necessarily capturing the context, the scores, or the circumstances surrounding those contests. Those whom providence has favoured should never mistake grace for entitlement.

“They should learn to read the room and understand the rhythm of time and season. Like Goodluck Jonathan, Amaechi appears to have enjoyed uncommon opportunities without any particularly compelling human justification.

“Continuing to seek higher positions beyond a certain point risks stretching favour and grace beyond their natural limits, and that can begin to resemble ingratitude.”

Idam, who mocked Atiku for his persistence in seeking the presidency, said politics has become existential for the former Vice President.

He added: “As for Atiku, he seems determined to keep the dice rolling against the tide of nature. For him, politics has become existential.

“He must remain in the race and will likely only stop when nature itself compels him to. Otherwise, every election cycle inevitably finds him as a candidate somewhere, regardless of zoning arrangements or prevailing sentiments.

“Whether he eventually succeeds is a question only time and destiny can answer.

“But Nigeria must ultimately free itself from the grip of kleptomaniacs and entrenched power brokers. Freedom has become inevitable.”