"If I Don't Give You Constant Electricity in The Next 4 Years, Don't Vote For Me For Second Term" - Peter Obi Dares Nigerians

 

Peter Obi, former presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, has reignited national conversation over Nigeria’s lingering electricity crisis, reminding citizens of a crucial campaign promise made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Obi cited Tinubu’s declaration on December 22, 2022, when he vowed that if he could not deliver constant electricity within four years, Nigerians should not vote for him again.

The comment, resurfaced through Obi’s recent post on X (formerly Twitter), has stirred reactions across political and civic spaces. Nigerians recall that the promise was celebrated as a beacon of hope for millions struggling with erratic supply. Today, however, Obi argues that the reality is far from what was pledged. According to him, the present administration has presided over more grid collapses and widespread blackouts than any in the country’s history.

Obi noted that the power sector has consumed billions of dollars over decades without yielding tangible improvement. Despite huge investments, Nigeria still struggles to maintain stable supply, with average generation stagnating between 4,500MW and 5,000MW. For context, he compared Nigeria’s performance to countries such as Vietnam, Egypt, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, which have invested strategically and rapidly expanded their electricity generation by tens of thousands of megawatts. Those nations, he pointed out, have leveraged power growth to stimulate industrialization and boost their GDPs, while Nigeria remains trapped in energy poverty.

The Labour Party leader drew attention to a grim statistic: Nigeria is already recognized as the nation with the largest population living without electricity access globally. This reality, he said, makes the broken promise even more painful, since reliable power is foundational to development, job creation, and industrial expansion.

Highlighting economic implications, Obi stressed that with a GDP of about 200 billion dollars, Nigeria could significantly expand its economy by addressing power shortages. He suggested that even a modest increase to 10,000MW of stable supply would have the potential to boost GDP by up to 50 percent, fueling growth across manufacturing, small businesses, and the services sector.

Rather than prioritizing electricity, Obi criticized the government’s current direction, which includes heavy investment in coastal road projects. While acknowledging the importance of infrastructure, he insisted that such ventures cannot generate the same economic impact as reliable power supply. He emphasized that without electricity, factories shut their doors, businesses collapse, unemployment rises, and families are left in darkness.

His message struck a chord with many Nigerians who endure rising costs from self-generation through diesel and petrol-powered generators. For small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly the vast network of NSMEs (Nano, Small and Medium Enterprises), power costs have become unsustainable. Obi argued that the government’s focus should be redirected toward urgent expansion of both generation and distribution networks to unlock productivity and revive industries.

Beyond the economic case, Obi framed the electricity challenge as a political question of trust and accountability. By citing Tinubu’s exact words, he pressed the administration to acknowledge responsibility and act with urgency. For Obi, delivering electricity is not simply a matter of infrastructure, but the test of a government’s credibility before its people.

He concluded his post with his familiar call for national renewal, stating that “A New Nigeria is POssible.” For his supporters, this represents both a critique of present failures and an invitation to imagine alternatives built on accountability, transparent investments, and people-centered priorities.

The response to Obi’s intervention reflects a deepening frustration among Nigerians, many of whom had hoped the change in government would translate into improvements in everyday life. Instead, reports of grid collapses and extended outages continue to dominate headlines, while households and businesses struggle to adapt.

Obi’s statement has effectively revived the centrality of electricity to Nigeria’s economic future. His insistence on linking promises to performance raises the stakes for the administration, as public patience wears thin. Whether the government takes steps to meet its pledge or continues with the current trajectory will remain a critical issue, shaping not only economic outcomes but also political credibility in the years ahead.