The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has asked the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government to stop attacking its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and focus on addressing the economic hardship facing Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Spokesperson of the NDC National Campaign Council, Dr Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, the party said the government should be more concerned about improving the living conditions of Nigerians.
It described statistics as important tools for measuring progress, identifying failures and guiding public policies, adding that a government confident in its performance should welcome scrutiny.
“The government and its supporters would rather attack the messenger and throw cheap shots than address the real issues,” the statement said.
The NDC cited increases in the prices of essential commodities, including petrol, rice, cement and bread, as evidence of the economic difficulties facing Nigerians.
According to the party, petrol, which sold for an average of N238.11 per litre in May 2023, now costs between N1,300 and N1,435 per litre in 2026.
It also claimed that the price of a 50kg bag of rice had increased from between N35,000 and N40,000 in mid-2023 to between N50,000 and N90,000, depending on the brand and market.
The party further said a 50kg bag of cement, which sold for between N4,010 and N5,300 in 2023, now costs between N10,500 and N15,000, while the price of bread had risen from between N500 and N700 to between N1,200 and N2,000.
“The cost of renting houses in major cities, particularly Lagos and Abuja, has also risen by between 80 and 120 per cent,” the party said.
The NDC challenged the Federal Government to publish its own figures, explain the methodology used and identify any errors in Obi’s analysis.
The party also urged the government to learn from developing countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, Rwanda, Morocco and India, which it said had recorded progress in poverty reduction and economic development.
The party urged the government to address concerns about the country’s economic performance ahead of the 2027 general elections, including poverty levels, business growth and the safety of citizens.
“Nigerians deserved leaders who were ready to learn, adopt practical solutions and take responsibility for their actions,” the party added.
