ADC: Cost of Living, Not Religion, Will Shape 2027 Voting
By Nafiu Muhammad Lema
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) says the cost-of-living crisis facing Nigerians will have a greater influence on voting decisions in the 2027 presidential election than religious or ethnic considerations.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this while reacting to an analysis by The Economist suggesting that President Bola Tinubu could secure re-election despite public dissatisfaction with his administration.
The Economist had attributed the President’s prospects to what it described as Nigeria’s complex electoral dynamics, including incumbency, opposition fragmentation, religion, political cynicism and low voter turnout in some areas.
However, Abdullahi disagreed with the publication’s assessment, arguing that the economic difficulties experienced by Nigerians across ethnic and religious divides would be a major factor in determining how they vote.
“We think the story is based on assumptions that are not necessarily correct. We agree with the story that President Tinubu is universally disliked, but we disagree that he could win the election” he observed.
He said the magazine had placed too much emphasis on religion and ethnicity while, in his view, underestimating the impact of economic hardship on voters.
“The article focuses on the role that religion and ethnicity could play in the election, but the argument is overstated. Nigerians across all divides are united under the cost of living crisis that the Tinubu administration has plunged them into.”
According to him, the economic situation would be a more significant consideration for voters than identity-based factors.
“And this will determine how they will vote more than anything else” he said.
Abdullahi also reacted to The Economist’s observation that Tinubu appeared relatively unconcerned about his re-election prospects despite the country’s economic and security challenges.
He said such an impression would indicate a disconnect from public sentiment.
“The article also suggests that the President does not appear like he is worried about losing the election. If it is true, then he doesn’t understand the mood of the country” he stressed.
The ADC spokesperson further alleged that the APC could only retain power through electoral manipulation, while claiming that the opposition party had a strategy to prevent such an outcome.
“The only way the APC could think of winning the election is to rig it. We know that and we have our strategy to stop them” he added.
