Prominent political voices, including Labour Party leader Peter Obi, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), former APC presidential aspirant Charles Udeogaranya, and ex-PDP chairman Prince Uche Secondus, have strongly criticised the Federal Government’s recent N712.3 billion airport renovation approval and what they describe as premature re-election moves by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s camp, amidst escalating poverty and insecurity in Nigeria.

Peter Obi: N712.3bn Airport Renovation a Misplaced Priority

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has slammed the Federal Government’s approval of N712.3 billion for airport renovation, calling it a “misplaced priority” in a time of extreme hunger and economic crisis.

In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Obi said:

“It is profoundly troubling that at a time when millions of Nigerians are battling hunger and hardship, the government chooses to spend N712 billion, not to feed the people or lift them out of poverty, but to renovate an airport.”

He referenced a recent UN warning published on August 1, 2025, which noted that over 34 million Nigerians face acute food insecurity. The airport project was announced the same day, drawing backlash from citizens and civil society groups.

Obi also questioned the timing and scale of the investment, reminding Nigerians that the country borrowed $500 million in 2013 to upgrade five international airports. Now, he said, the government is spending even more on a single project amid worsening economic conditions.

“A government that builds grandiose infrastructure while its people starve is not building a nation — it is betraying one,” he said.

Obi urged the government to redirect funds towards agriculture, healthcare, education, and social welfare, stressing that food security is a matter of national security, not just a welfare concern.

ADC Blasts Illegal Early Campaigns, Paints Grim Economic Picture

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), in a scathing statement, condemned what it called illegal early re-election campaigns by President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC). The statement, signed by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the ruling party of violating the Electoral Act and INEC’s guidelines while ignoring Nigerians’ suffering.

“While the ruling party chants ‘four more years’, inflation has galloped beyond the reach of ordinary citizens,” the statement read.

The party listed several indicators of national hardship:

  • Inflation remains above 22%, with food and transport costs rising over 60%.

  • The naira has fallen from N461/$ in early 2023 to over N1,500/$.

  • Petrol prices now average N1,000 per litre.

  • 1,800 civilians and 122 security personnel were killed between April and June alone.

  • Over 50 people were abducted in a single Zamfara community last week.

The ADC also cited crumbling infrastructure, energy crises, debt burdens, and growing insecurity as evidence of what it called “governance failure.”

“Under the APC, Nigerians are hungry, sick, and scared,” Abdullahi said.

The party demanded the immediate dismantling of APC’s early campaign structures, warning that every political poster displayed before the campaign window opens is “a billboard of illegality.”

Udeogaranya to Tinubu: Halt 2027 Ambitions, Focus on Governance

Former APC presidential aspirant Charles Udeogaranya also criticised ongoing political mobilisation by Tinubu's supporters, calling it a dangerous distraction from pressing national issues.

In a statement from Abuja, Udeogaranya said:

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu needs to go low and silence his 2027 presidential ambition... now is the time for governance — at least until June 2026.”

He aligned with INEC’s recent warning against premature campaigns and urged politicians to stop diverting public resources to political meetings and mobilisation.

“No amount of time is enough for politicians to conduct their trade through more meetings, mobilisations, and refreshments on the same dried purse meant for the people’s welfare,” he said.

Secondus: Nigeria Headed for Liquidation Under Tinubu

Joining the wave of criticism, former PDP National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus accused President Tinubu of leading Nigeria towards economic and democratic collapse.

Speaking at a book launch in Abuja, Secondus said:

“We don’t have democracy in our country. What we have is a platform for winning an election.”

He criticised the lack of ideological discipline within Nigerian political parties and warned of institutional collapse.

Secondus added that political cross-carpeting without consequences has eroded Nigeria’s democratic stability, contrasting it with South Africa’s ANC.

“Until we establish proper democratic political parties where people can stay 30, 40, 50 years, build and reconstruct, the country will not move forward,” he declared.

INEC Warns Against Early Electioneering

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also issued warnings against early campaigns, stressing that political activities for 2027 must not begin until its official timetable is released.

INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, condemned the surge in posters, endorsements, and political messaging, warning that they violate the Electoral Act and could destabilise the polity.