By Ayomide Otitoju
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi, has faulted Bola Tinubu over persistent electricity challenges, accusing the administration of failing to deliver on its promise of stable power supply.
In a statement posted on X on Monday, Obi, a former Anambra State governor, recalled Tinubu’s campaign pledge to ensure steady electricity within four years in office. He said 32 months into the administration, the national grid has continued to perform poorly.
Obi expressed concern over reports that the Presidential Villa may be disconnected from the national grid to rely solely on solar power. He referenced provisions in the 2025 budget allocating ₦10 billion for a solar project at Aso Rock, alongside additional funds in the 2026 budget for upgrades and maintenance.
Describing the move as troubling, Obi argued that government institutions should lead efforts to strengthen the national grid rather than abandon it. While acknowledging the importance of renewable energy, he said the development sends the wrong signal about leadership and accountability.
Last year, the Federal Government began constructing a ₦10 billion solar mini-grid to power the Presidential Villa, reflecting a shift toward renewable energy amid ongoing instability in the national electricity grid.
Nigeria has continued to experience repeated grid collapses, including incidents earlier this year and in late December 2025, resulting in widespread outages. During one collapse, electricity generation reportedly dropped from over 4,500 megawatts to zero, with all 23 generation plants connected to the grid losing output and power distribution halted nationwide.
Authorities have attributed the recurring failures to technical faults, inadequate maintenance of transmission infrastructure and fluctuations in generation capacity.
