President Bola Tinubu and VP Kashim Shettima
All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has defended the President Bola Tinubu’s campaign promise on electricity, insisting that his commitment to end estimated billing and improve power supply should be assessed in its full context and alongside the reforms implemented since 2023.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the APC Presidential Campaign Council Spokesperson, Dele Alake, the council said recent public comments had quoted only part of Tinubu’s 2023 campaign speech while ignoring his explanation that he would give Nigerians reasons if he could not fully achieve the target before seeking a second term.
At a meeting with members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) in Lagos before the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu had promised to tackle the country’s long-standing electricity challenges, especially the problem of estimated billing.
His exact words were: “Whichever way, by all means necessary, you will have electricity, and you will not pay for estimated bills anymore. A promise made will be a promise kept. If I don’t keep the promise and I come for a second term, don’t vote for me, unless I give you adequate reasons why I couldn’t deliver.”
According to the APC, the President’s performance should be judged based on reforms introduced to improve electricity supply, expand metering, strengthen infrastructure and stabilise the power market rather than on isolated campaign quotations.
The council said one of Tinubu’s first major actions after assuming office was signing the Electricity Act 2023, which removed electricity from the Exclusive Legislative List and allowed states to participate in electricity generation, transmission and distribution. It noted that states including Lagos, Enugu, Abia, Ekiti, Oyo, Kaduna and Niger have already established electricity regulatory agencies under the new law.
The APC also said the administration inherited over N6 trillion in legacy debts in the power sector and launched the Presidential Metering Initiative to reduce Nigeria’s more than seven million metering gap. It added that over 1.5 million electricity customers have been metered in the last three years, while universities, hospitals and rural communities have also benefited from solar electrification projects.
The statement further said the Federal Government introduced a N4 trillion bond programme to clear verified debts owed to power generation and gas companies, adding that more than N1.2 trillion has already been raised to improve liquidity in the sector and encourage fresh investments.
According to the campaign council, the Tinubu administration also reviewed the Presidential Power Initiative, approved new transmission substation projects and commenced upgrades aimed at improving electricity supply across the country. It added that additional substations approved in 2026 are expected to strengthen the national grid, although such projects require time because of the specialised equipment involved.
The APC acknowledged that Nigeria’s electricity challenges have not been fully resolved but maintained that the President remains committed to completing the reforms. It added that as Tinubu seeks re-election in 2027, he will present Nigerians with his record in the power sector and explain what still needs to be done.
