Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government, accusing it of deepening the economic hardship faced by Nigerians through what he described as “anti-people policies and poor governance.”
In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, Obi argued that the economic policies implemented by the administration over the last two years have worsened the living conditions of citizens instead of improving their welfare.
Quoting a World Bank report released on October 8, 2025, Obi highlighted the alarming rise in poverty, stating that 139 million Nigerians are now living below the poverty line—up from 87 million in 2023, when President Bola Tinubu assumed office.
“What this means is that in two years under the watch of the APC regime, over 50 million Nigerians were sent into poverty. This is a heartbreaking reflection of how deeply our nation is failing its citizens,” he said.
The former governor of Anambra State expressed concern that such a damning report failed to trigger serious national attention or a policy response from the government. “What is even more concerning is that this devastating revelation has not led to an emergency and national discussion on how to effectively pull millions of our people out of poverty. Instead, the government issued a rebuttal—even when the reality is visible in the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians,” Obi added.
He also referred to the World Bank’s assessment that despite several “celebrated reforms,” the number of poor Nigerians continues to grow, further entrenching the country’s position as the poverty capital of the world.
“The reasons these reforms are not working are due to the lack of a clear plan and the absence of commitment to channel the supposed gains into productive areas that will benefit the people and stimulate real growth,” Obi said.
Calling for a fundamental shift in the government’s economic approach, the Labour Party flag bearer urged the administration to prioritise human development and adopt policies that are focused on production.
“Reforms must be deliberate and backed by people-focused policies that prioritise production over consumption, support small businesses and farmers, invest in education and healthcare, and ensure that government spending directly improves the lives of Nigerians,” he stated.
Obi concluded with a cautionary note, stressing that sustainable national progress cannot be achieved while the majority of citizens remain impoverished.
“No nation can truly rise when the majority of its people are trapped in poverty. With the right leadership, we can make Nigeria work for every Nigerian,” he said.
