Onanuga Dismisses Claims Tinubu Promised to Abandon Re-Election Bid Over Electricity Failure

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu promised not to seek a second term if he failed to improve electricity supply in Nigeria.

Speaking during an interview, Onanuga said the President’s 2022 campaign remarks had “been taken out of context.”

He explained that Tinubu’s comments on electricity were conditional and should not be interpreted as a firm pledge to forgo re-election if power supply failed to improve.

According to Onanuga, the President has shown commitment to transforming the power sector since taking office.

He pointed to the signing of the Electricity Act, which empowers states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity independently.

The presidential spokesman also highlighted efforts to address estimated billing through increased meter distribution and other measures aimed at enhancing service delivery.

While acknowledging that electricity supply has yet to reach the level the administration envisioned, Onanuga attributed the setbacks to longstanding challenges, including gas shortages, legacy debts owed to gas suppliers and an ageing transmission network.

He maintained that the Federal Government remains committed to tackling these issues and improving electricity generation and distribution nationwide.