As campaigning begins for Nigeria’s 2027 elections, President Bola Tinubu faces a difficult question: do Nigerians believe their lives are getting better after more than a decade of APC rule?
That question could become one of the biggest issues in the election.
Tinubu’s administration has introduced major economic reforms, including the removal of the fuel subsidy and changes to the naira exchange rate. The government says these measures were necessary to correct long-standing problems and have helped improve economic stability, government revenue and investor confidence.
But for many households, the reforms have come with a heavy cost.
Food, transportation and other basic expenses have become harder to afford, while businesses and families continue to deal with high living costs.
According to report, Nigeria’s public debt had risen to about 159.35 trillion naira by March 2026, compared with 12.6 trillion naira at the end of 2015. GDP per capita has also fallen significantly over the same period.
Security is another major concern.
Although the government says military operations have reduced attacks and improved access to some areas, Nigerians continue to face problems including kidnapping, banditry and other forms of violence.
This leaves Tinubu with a difficult political task.
His government needs to convince voters that the economic pain caused by its reforms is leading to meaningful long-term improvements. Meanwhile, opposition candidates are likely to focus heavily on the cost of living, insecurity and the overall record of the APC since it came to power in 2015.
The election may therefore become less about promises and more about results.
For many Nigerians, the most important questions are simple: Can they afford food? Can businesses survive? Can farmers work safely? Can families live without fear of kidnapping and violence?
As the campaign begins, those everyday realities could determine whether voters reward Tinubu’s reform agenda or demand a change in direction.
For the APC, the 2027 election is no longer simply a campaign for another term. It is a test of whether Nigerians believe the sacrifices of recent years have been worth it.
By Viewers Corner News