- ‘Tinubu Never Promised Nigerians 24-Hour Electricity’ – Onanuga
- He accused Peter Obi of misrepresenting the President’s campaign remarks.
- The Presidency highlighted power sector reforms under Tinubu’s administration.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has denied claims that the President promised Nigerians 24-hour electricity supply during the 2023 election campaign.
Onanuga said assertions that Tinubu guaranteed uninterrupted electricity for all Nigerians were a misrepresentation of what the President actually said while campaigning for office.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the presidential aide made the clarification on Monday while responding to comments by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who recently called on Tinubu to resign over the country’s security and economic challenges.
Obi argued that the President should take responsibility for the worsening conditions in the country, citing insecurity, economic hardship and persistent power supply issues. He also referenced the resignation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, describing it as an example of leadership accountability.
As part of his criticism, Obi claimed Tinubu had promised Nigerians 24-hour electricity during the 2023 election campaign and challenged voters not to re-elect him if he failed to deliver on that promise.
Reacting to the claim, Onanuga insisted that Tinubu never made such a commitment and accused Obi and his supporters of repeatedly misrepresenting the President’s remarks.
According to him, the statement in question was made during a campaign event in Lagos and was specifically related to electricity billing and power supply improvements.
“Concerning President Tinubu’s campaign promises on power supply, it is misleading for Peter Obi to parrot the claim that candidate Tinubu guaranteed 24-hour electricity for all. What he actually said on that occasion in Lagos and which Obi and his followers have consistently misquoted, for the sake of mischief, was: ‘Whichever way, by all means necessary, you will have electricity, and you will not pay for estimated bills anymore. A promise made will be a promise kept. If I don’t keep the promise and I come for a second term, don’t vote for me—unless I give you adequate reasons why I couldn’t deliver,’” Onanuga said.
The presidential spokesman also defended the administration’s record in the power sector, saying the government had introduced reforms aimed at improving electricity supply and access.
According to him, Tinubu’s administration has signed the Electricity Act into law, expanded the deployment of prepaid meters and invested in alternative power sources as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s electricity sector.
