President Bola Ahmed Tinubu told Nigerians during his 2022 campaign that they should not vote for him for a second term if he failed to deliver on his promise to improve electricity supply.
Tinubu made the statement during a business luncheon in December 2022, ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
His remarks have returned to public debate as millions of Nigerians continue to struggle with unreliable electricity and attention grows around the 2027 presidential election.
For many Nigerians, the power crisis is not simply a political issue. It affects nearly every part of daily life.
Families are forced to spend more money on petrol and diesel to run generators when electricity is unavailable. Small businesses such as barbershops, restaurants, phone charging shops, welding businesses and food sellers face higher operating costs because they have to find alternative sources of power.
Some business owners say the cost of running generators has become a major burden, forcing them to increase the prices of their goods and services.
Students also struggle when power cuts make it difficult to study at night, charge phones and laptops or access the internet. Homes without generators or alternative power sources can spend long periods without electricity, sometimes relying on rechargeable lamps, power banks and other backup equipment.
The situation is particularly difficult for households that cannot afford fuel or private power systems.
Tinubu had promised to provide reliable electricity and end the practice of estimated electricity billing.
However, his presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, has rejected the claim that Tinubu made an unconditional promise that he would not deserve another term if power supply remained poor.
Onanuga said in June 2026 that the President’s statement had been taken out of context.
According to Onanuga, Tinubu had said that Nigerians would have electricity and would no longer have to pay estimated bills. He said the President had also added that if there were reasons why the promise could not be fully delivered, Nigerians should understand the problems inherited by his administration.
The presidential spokesman pointed to the Electricity Act signed by Tinubu after he became President as one of the major steps taken by the administration to change the power sector.
The law allows states to participate more directly in electricity generation, transmission and distribution. The government has argued that the change could increase competition and attract more investment to the sector.
The administration has also highlighted efforts to reduce Nigeria’s metering gap and provide more electricity meters to consumers.
But the continuing power problems remain a major source of frustration for Nigerians.
Electricity shortages affect homes, schools, hospitals, factories, offices and small businesses. Where public electricity is unavailable, people often have to pay privately for power through generators, inverters, batteries or solar systems.
For low income families, these alternatives can be difficult to afford.
Businesses face an additional burden because money that could be used to employ workers, expand operations or reduce prices is instead spent on fuel, generator repairs and other power costs.
The electricity crisis also affects the wider economy because unreliable power increases production costs and makes it harder for businesses to operate efficiently.
The government has blamed some of the problems on long standing weaknesses in the power sector, including gas shortages, unpaid debts and an ageing transmission network.
Nigeria has significant installed electricity generation capacity, but the amount of electricity actually available to consumers is often much lower because generating plants may lack sufficient gas and the transmission and distribution systems have limitations.
The government has also pointed to large debts across the electricity supply chain as another challenge facing the sector.
Despite the reforms announced by the Tinubu administration, many Nigerians continue to demand more reliable electricity and an end to the heavy cost of providing their own power.
The debate over Tinubu’s 2022 promise is therefore likely to remain part of public discussion as Nigerians assess the government’s record and the state of the electricity sector ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
For ordinary Nigerians, the issue remains straightforward. They want electricity that is available, affordable and reliable enough for them to live, study, work and run their businesses without constantly depending on generators and other expensive alternatives.
