Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of avoiding direct engagement with Nigerians over his administration’s performance as he seeks another term in office.

Atiku said Tinubu should account for his first term before asking voters to grant him another four years, citing rising living costs and difficulties faced by households.

In a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communication for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku criticised Tinubu for reportedly indicating that he might miss campaign rallies because of the demands of governance.

“Where was that urgency when Nigerians pleaded for relief?” Atiku asked.

He said Nigerians had faced difficulties affording food, accessing healthcare and maintaining their purchasing power during the president’s three-and-a-half years in office.

Atiku challenged Tinubu to explain what his government had done to make food affordable, improve pensioners’ access to medicines and create decent jobs for young people.

He also questioned the president’s emphasis on meeting the expectations of American creditors and investors, saying Nigerians equally needed urgent attention to their economic difficulties.

“Tinubu says American creditors cannot wait. Nigerians cannot wait either,” Atiku said.

The former vice president also criticised the president’s reliance on political allies to defend his administration, arguing that Tinubu should personally answer questions about his record and campaign promises.

“The people on his campaign council did not receive the mandate in 2023. Tinubu did. He made the promises. He took the decisions. He must face the questions,” he said.

Atiku added that voters would assess the president based on their experiences under his administration rather than the arguments made by political supporters.

The statement was signed by Shaibu on behalf of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council on October 15, 2026.