Supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under the Tinubu Must Stay (TMS) platform, have responded to opposition calls for his exit ahead of the 2027 election, citing economic growth, student loans and compressed natural gas (CNG) conversions as evidence of what they describe as progress under the administration.
The group’s position followed the adoption of “Tinubu Must Go” as a political slogan by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, repeating the phrase during his Independence Day address on October 1, 2026.
Key Highlights
- Tinubu Must Stay supporters respond to opposition calls for President Tinubu to leave office.
- TMS cites 4.43% GDP growth in Q2 2026 as evidence of economic expansion.
- The group highlights NELFUND, saying more than 1.5 million students had benefited from the student-loan programme.
- TMS cites more than 120,000 CNG vehicle conversions and over 400 certified conversion centres.
- The group acknowledges that fuel, transport and living costs remain high despite some economic indicators improving.
- Atiku Abubakar used his October 1 address to repeat the slogan “Tinubu Must Go.”
- The competing positions come as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 general election.
Tinubu Must Stay Group Responds to Atiku
In a statement signed by its National Convener, Engr. Ibrahim Uba, the Tinubu Must Stay platform said it was established by citizens who support continuity of the Tinubu administration and intend to make their case through data, public engagement and discussion of government programmes.
The group acknowledged that major reforms introduced since May 2023, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and foreign-exchange reforms, have increased pressure on households through higher living, transportation and energy costs.
TMS, however, argued that the assessment of the administration should also include measurable economic and social programmes as well as their longer-term objectives.
TMS Cites 4.43% GDP Growth
One of the key figures highlighted by the Tinubu Must Stay group is Nigeria’s 4.43 per cent real GDP growth in the second quarter of 2026.
The National Bureau of Statistics figure represents an increase from 4.23 per cent in Q2 2025 and 3.89 per cent in Q1 2026. President Tinubu’s office also cited the same GDP figure in August when responding to the latest economic data.
TMS said the figures demonstrate economic expansion, although the group acknowledged that GDP growth alone does not eliminate the financial difficulties facing households.
Inflation Slows, but Prices Remain a Concern
The group also pointed to the reported moderation in headline inflation, which it said stood at 15.39 per cent in August 2026, compared with 15.43 per cent in July.
TMS stressed that a lower inflation rate does not mean that prices have fallen. Rather, it means prices are increasing at a slower rate.
The distinction remains important in the political debate, as Nigerians continue to contend with the cost of food, transport, fuel and other basic necessities.
NELFUND Student Loans Highlighted
On education, TMS cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), saying more than 1.5 million students had benefited from the student-loan programme, with more than ₦282 billion disbursed as of June.
NELFUND is the federal body responsible for administering the student-loan programme. Its official platform currently reports more than 1.47 million registered students and nearly two million loan applications.
The Tinubu Must Stay group also highlighted the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, saying more than 160,000 fellows had been trained across three cohorts, while about 1.87 million people were registered within the wider programme pipeline.
TMS Highlights CNG Conversions
The group also cited the Federal Government’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative as another area of its argument for continuity.
According to TMS, more than 120,000 vehicles have been converted to CNG, supported by more than 400 certified conversion centres and over 90 refuelling stations.
However, the group acknowledged that the expansion of CNG infrastructure has not yet automatically translated into widespread reductions in transportation costs for Nigerians.
Housing Projects and Jobs
TMS also pointed to housing initiatives under the Renewed Hope Housing Programme and Federal Housing Authority projects.
The group said more than 10,000 housing units had been delivered, with more than 300,000 jobs projected or associated with the programmes.
The movement argued that such interventions should form part of the broader assessment of the Tinubu administration rather than focusing solely on the immediate effects of economic reforms.
Atiku Calls for Tinubu’s Exit
The TMS statement came after Atiku Abubakar, the ADC presidential candidate, criticised the Tinubu administration during his Independence Day State of the Nation address.
Atiku challenged President Tinubu’s description of the economy as moving towards prosperity, pointing instead to cost-of-living pressures, fuel prices, insecurity and transportation challenges.
He ended his address with the repeated slogan “Tinubu must go”, signalling the ADC’s opposition to the continuation of the Tinubu administration.
TMS Acknowledges Economic Hardship
Despite its support for the President, the Tinubu Must Stay platform said government statistics should not be used to dismiss the difficulties experienced by Nigerians.
Uba said the group recognised that economic reforms had imposed substantial costs on households and argued that government programmes should ultimately be judged by their actual impact on citizens.
The group said its intention was to ensure that documented government interventions remain part of the public debate while allowing competing political claims to be tested against available evidence.
Political Debate Intensifies Ahead of 2027
The exchange between Tinubu Must Stay supporters and the ADC reflects the increasingly competitive political debate ahead of the 2027 general election.
While TMS is highlighting economic growth, student loans, CNG conversions and other government programmes, opposition figures such as Atiku are focusing on the cost of living, fuel prices, insecurity and the effect of economic reforms on households.
The competing arguments are likely to remain central to political discussions as parties and political groups seek to present their records and policy positions to Nigerian voters ahead of 2027. For more updates, follow us on X.
