‘Nigerians Never Had It This Bad’ – CUPP Scores Tinubu Low in Midterm Review

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has issued a damning midterm evaluation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, describing the last two years as one of the darkest and most regressive periods in Nigeria’s recent democratic history.

In a statement signed by its national spokesperson, Comrade Mark Adebayo, the CUPP accused the Tinubu-led government of deepening economic hardship, escalating insecurity, and running an administration “devoid of empathy, vision, or competence.”

“Two years ago, severe hunger came to town in Nigeria through President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Adebayo said. “Government in its most inhumane identity ascended the throne. Insecurity became exacerbated. Youth joblessness assumed exponential implosion.”

The coalition cited the economic impact of fuel subsidy removal and the resulting inflation—now reportedly above 36%—as factors that have plunged millions into deeper poverty.

“One wonders what happens to the billions of dollars accruing to the government in the aftermath of the wicked removal of fuel subsidy on day one of Tinubu’s administration,” Adebayo queried.

“It is a deliberate impoverishment policy to mortgage Nigeria’s future up to five generations or more just to satisfy their own avarice and greed.”

The CUPP expressed grave concerns about rising insecurity across the country, particularly in the North Central region.

“The people in Benue and Plateau states and other parts of the country are being murdered in cold blood en masse on a daily basis by an invading army of terrorists, killer herders, and bold kidnappers,” Adebayo said.

“Even Abuja, the seat of government, is not safe from these predators who prey on innocent and defenceless Nigerians.”

On education, the coalition alleged a catastrophic retreat in standards and access, claiming that the number of out-of-school children had almost doubled since Tinubu assumed office.

“Out-of-school children statistics jumped from twenty million to almost forty million. The country’s education is in a speedy retreat, while access to quality education is an exclusive preserve of those in power and the wealthy.”

CUPP also slammed the federal government over what it called the total collapse of Nigeria’s health sector.

“Our health institutions are now worse than mere consulting centers. The country’s medicare has totally collapsed,” the statement read.

“The masses bear the heavy burden of Nigeria’s health sector crisis as our president and his cabinet find solace abroad with their families for medical treatment.”

The coalition warned that Nigeria’s rising debt profile under Tinubu’s administration could haunt generations to come.

“Nigeria’s total debt, including external and domestic debt, is expected to reach a whopping ₦188 trillion by the end of 2025,” Adebayo said.

“Yet, the government of President Tinubu is still asking to borrow more.”

CUPP accused President Tinubu of beginning his re-election campaign prematurely, which it said contravenes the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act.

“The President has started actively campaigning for a second term for the past six months. His billboards and posters are all over the place,” Adebayo alleged.

“This is impunity at its crudest. Governance has been relegated to secondary consideration.”

CUPP further condemned the government’s alleged crackdown on free expression, especially on digital platforms.

“Nigerians are no longer free to express themselves, especially on social media, due to the government’s misuse of power to suppress dissent through the security agencies,” the statement claimed.

Concluding its statement, CUPP made a rallying call for a change in 2027, stating that the opposition was ready to present a transformative leader.

“Nigerians are aware that a second term for President Tinubu would be extremely disastrous,” Adebayo declared.

“The opposition is poised to avail Nigerians of a competent, patriotic, compassionate, creative president with a revolutionary mindset to fix Nigeria’s myriad of problems within the shortest possible time.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, after winning the tightly contested 2023 general election. His administration’s early days were marked by bold economic reforms, including the controversial removal of fuel subsidies and floating of the naira.

While the presidency maintains that long-term reforms are underway to reposition Nigeria’s economy, opposition voices—including CUPP—have increasingly painted the administration as disconnected from the plight of ordinary citizens.