A Kaduna based Islamic cleric Sheikh Sunusi Khalil, has challenged supporters of President Bola Tinubu over the president’s earlier statement on electricity supply.
Sunusi Khalil asked why anyone should ignore the promise now that the president himself once told Nigerians not to vote for him if he failed to fix power in his first term.
The remarks came in a video shared by the account ADC Vanguard on October 15, 2026. In the clip the cleric points to the campaign period statement made by Tinubu before the 2023 election.
During a December 2022 business luncheon Tinubu told the audience that if he did not deliver constant electricity within four years then Nigerians should not vote for him when he returns for a second term. He also spoke of ending estimated billing and ensuring power by all means necessary.
The statement has resurfaced several times amid ongoing power shortages across the country.
Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga has previously said the remarks were conditional and taken out of context. He argued that Tinubu acknowledged the problems he would inherit and focused on reforms such as the Electricity Act which allows states to generate and distribute power.
Onanuga noted government efforts including meter production and directions to distribution companies.
Many Nigerians continue to report frequent blackouts. Opposition groups including the African Democratic Congress have cited grid collapses higher tariffs and millions still without reliable supply as evidence that the four-year promise remains unmet.
Reports from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission alleged that there is available generation well below installed capacity in recent months.
Sheikh Sunusi Khalil has made other public statements critical of the current administration. Earlier in 2026 had said that the ruling party budgeted a large sum to mobilize northern Islamic scholars and traditional rulers ahead of the 2027 elections and said he rejected an approach to join such an effort. He has also warned against campaign activities in mosques and homes.
The latest video has drawn attention on social media as preparations for the January 16, 2027, presidential election continues. The All-Progressives Congress has adopted Tinubu as its candidate and inaugurated a Presidential Campaign Council.
Tinubu has publicly indicated he will campaign for another term and has spoken of wrestling opponents to the finish.
At the same time many Nigerians are demanding with slogan Tinubu Must Go and have held protests across the country calling for his exit with some meetings blocked by police.
Separately US authorities have confirmed in court filings that Tinubu was the subject of a criminal investigation linked to a 1990s Chicago heroin trafficking probe.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration have released partially redacted records in a Freedom of Information Act case. A 1993 civil forfeiture involved roughly 460000 dollars from accounts associated with him.
Tinubu has denied wrongdoing and joined the case as an intervenor through US lawyers who argue that further disclosure would invade his privacy.
The presidency has stated the matter is a civil records dispute and not a criminal case against him with no court finding of guilt. Ordinary citizens along with some Nigerian political parties and civil society groups have called on the United States to release the full records.
No official response from the presidency or the All-Progressives Congress to the clerics specific electricity challenge had been issued at the time of the video circulation.
