APC Launches 2027 Election Manifesto, Stands by Tinubu’s Economic Changes

The All Progressives Congress (APC) launched its manifesto for the 2027 presidential election on Tuesday. They defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms and promised that these changes would lead to better living conditions for Nigerians.

The manifesto, titled Translating Reforms to Shared Prosperity, outlines what the party plans to focus on if they win another four years. This includes security, job opportunities, infrastructure, affordable living, and accountable governance.

President Tinubu was not present at the event. Senior officials and party members spoke about his policies as the basis for Nigeria's economic recovery and future growth.

At the event, Femi Gbajabiamila, the president's chief of staff, called the manifesto a contract with Nigerians. He said the government understands that many families are still waiting for the benefits of its reforms.

"At the heart of this manifesto is an abiding conviction that every Nigerian should be able to share. Your country should give your best efforts a fair chance," he stated.

Gbajabiamila recognized the tough economic times Nigerians have faced since Tinubu took office in May 2023. He pointed out that the removal of the petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign exchange system have greatly impacted families.

"Now, those decisions have placed real pressure on households. We must speak honestly about that experience because the people living through it deserve to be heard, and nobody should have to pretend that it’s easy," he said.

Despite this, he backed the decisions made, saying ignoring economic issues would hurt the country’s ability to invest in the future.

According to him, Tinubu chose to act as a leader, not just a politician worried about the next election.

"The difference between a politician and a leader is that whereas the politician thinks about the next election, the leader thinks about the next generation. That’s exactly what President Bola Ahmed did," he said.

Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, said the new manifesto aims to turn the opportunities created by reforms into real improvements for Nigerians.

He listed the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), tax reforms, and the Electricity Act as examples of policies meant to create opportunities and improve services.

The manifesto also commits to reducing the number of out-of-school children by 2031, installing seven million more electricity meters, and expanding health insurance.

Gbajabiamila said the party will publish targets and identify officials responsible for them. They plan to report progress regularly to the public.

He urged Nigerians to review the document and hold the party accountable for its promises.

"For those of us in public office, this is an obligation to work. The president’s determination must be matched by performance through government," he added.

He mentioned that the APC would ask for Nigerians' support in 2027 to continue the reforms and extend their benefits to more households.

Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development and spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, spoke next. He said the launch showed the party's commitment to sharing its policies with Nigerians.

He claimed that political parties should clearly state their goals and reasons for wanting public office.

Alake called the APC Nigeria’s most organized political party and said no civilian government has made reforms as significant as those by Tinubu.

He challenged critics to debate this claim, saying the administration has faced economic issues that past governments avoided.

"No other leader in the history of this country has looked at the structural economic problems of this country and decided to take the bulls by the horns and confront those problems," he said.

He cited the petrol subsidy removal and changes to the foreign exchange system as proof of Tinubu’s readiness to make tough decisions.

Alake argued that the subsidy helped only powerful interests while damaging Nigeria's growth.

He said the old foreign exchange system allowed a few privileged individuals to profit without helping the economy.

The Tinubu administration has made efforts to fix these issues, and Alake said the reforms have started attracting attention from international investors.

He rejected claims that the government's policies only help the rich. He argued that businesses and wealthy investors are key to creating jobs and boosting the economy.

He also mentioned NELFUND as part of the administration’s work to help ordinary Nigerians.

Alake pointed to the solid minerals sector as an example of how the government’s economic diversification is making a difference.

He said revenue from this sector rose from N6 billion in 2023 to N38 billion in 2024 and N70 billion in 2025.

According to him, figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria showed that revenue reached over N101 billion in the first nine months of 2026.

He attributed this rise to new policies introduced by his ministry to boost the sector.

Alake said the manifesto will build on current reforms and spread benefits across healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, industrial development, and solid minerals.

He encouraged Nigerians to support the APC for another term, saying the country needs to continue with what is working.

"You don’t change a winning horse. The APC government is a winning horse. You cannot afford to change it," Alake stated.

Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, also defended the administration’s economic policies. He said the private sector recognizes the progress made with Tinubu’s promises.

He remembered that the APC’s previous manifesto was created through talks with civil society, business leaders, and other groups, which helped to create ownership.

Bagudu mentioned that the Nigerian Economic Summit Group recently allowed the government and private sector to review the administration’s economic policies.

He said business leaders showed confidence in the government's direction and noted more investments.

He also admitted that the administration has not done enough to ensure every Nigerian feels the benefits of its policies.

"But as we all know, even before any session, he felt that, yes, we have done well. But until we deliver and ensure that every Nigerian feels prospered, especially those hardworking Nigerians, everybody, and those who are otherwise disadvantaged are supported, we still have work to do," he said.

Bagudu shared a story about an encounter Tinubu had during the campaign in Zamfara State. He said the president saw a woman selling carrots late at night, tired and with flies around her produce.

Tinubu was worried that despite her hard work, she was not getting enough reward for it.

Bagudu said the president then asked an aide to give the woman money, showing his concern for everyday Nigerians.

He defended the decision to remove the petrol subsidy and make other economic changes, saying they were needed to fix long-standing issues.

He pointed to rising government revenue and economic growth as proof of progress.

Bagudu said Nigeria has enjoyed 13 consecutive quarters of economic growth, while inflation is coming down.

His goal is not just to stabilize the economy but to ensure that growth improves everyday life.

Abdulmumin Jibrin, a member of the House of Representatives, said expanding Nigeria’s fiscal space is one of the administration’s major achievements.

He noted that while the country still has a budget deficit, higher non-oil revenue has given the government more resources for development.

He mentioned increased funding for states after the petrol subsidy removal, as well as ongoing infrastructure projects, as signs of progress.

Jibrin specifically pointed to the Abuja-Kaduna and Kaduna-Kano roads, the planned completion of the Kaduna-Abuja-Kano railway, and government support for the Dawanau agricultural market in Kano State.

He said the government has also provided electricity infrastructure to this market, one of the largest in West Africa.

Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, also defended the administration, highlighting improvements in security, education, foreign exchange management, and key economic indicators.

He said security along the Abuja-Kaduna road has improved, allowing safer travel compared to past years.

Idris mentioned NELFUND, noting that around 1.6 million students have benefited from it.

He argued that the program has helped students who might not have been able to afford school to get financial support.

He also pointed out Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in October 2025 and better ratings from international agencies as signs of the administration’s successful reforms.

Idris said the government has also dealt with concerns about foreign investors being unable to take their money out of the country, improving trust in the Nigerian economy.

He called on journalists to report on the administration's successes as well as its failures, saying that criticism should not stop the media from recognizing positive changes.

"It is important to criticise. It is important to point out areas of correction for any government. Indeed, that is your role as journalist. But it is also important that you know that it is not only when you are adversarial that you can lay claim to good journalism or good media," he stated.

He urged Nigerians to support Tinubu, saying the administration is building a foundation for lasting economic success.