A support group backing President Bola Tinubu, known as Tinubu Must Stay, has rejected calls by opposition figures for the President to leave office, citing economic indicators and government programmes as reasons for continuity.
Drivetvnews gathered that the group made its position known in a statement signed by its National Convener, Ibrahim Uba, following renewed opposition criticism of Tinubu’s administration.
The development came after ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar ended his Independence Day address on Thursday with repeated calls for “Tinubu must go.”
Atiku had rejected the President’s declaration that Nigeria had entered an “age of prosperity,” arguing for a different political direction ahead of the 2027 elections.
Responding, TMS said it was formed by citizens who support continuity in Tinubu’s administration and intend to present their case through data, facts and public engagement.
The group acknowledged that the administration’s reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and foreign exchange reforms, had increased financial pressure on households through higher living, transportation and energy costs.
However, it argued that the government’s record should also be assessed through measurable outcomes, unresolved challenges and the long-term objectives of its policies.
On economic performance, TMS cited National Bureau of Statistics figures showing real GDP growth of 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 4.23 per cent in the same quarter of 2025 and 3.89 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.
The group also noted that headline inflation stood at 15.39 per cent in August, slightly lower than the 15.43 per cent recorded in July, while acknowledging that slower inflation does not mean that prices have fallen.
TMS further highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, saying more than 1.5 million students had benefited from the programme as of June, with over ₦282 billion reportedly disbursed.
It also pointed to the 3 Million Technical Talent programme, which it said had trained more than 160,000 fellows across three cohorts, with about 1.87 million people registered or included in its wider pipeline.
On transportation, the group said more than 120,000 vehicles had been converted to Compressed Natural Gas, supported by over 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 refuelling stations.
It nevertheless acknowledged that the expansion of CNG infrastructure would need to translate into significant reductions in transportation costs for Nigerians.
TMS also cited the Renewed Hope Housing Programme and Federal Housing Authority projects, claiming that more than 10,000 housing units had been delivered across the country, with over 300,000 jobs projected or associated with the projects.
The group stressed that government statistics alone could not erase the economic difficulties facing Nigerians, saying policies should ultimately be judged by their impact on citizens rather than announcements or expenditure figures.
It said its objective was to ensure that public discussions about the country’s challenges also considered documented government interventions and allowed competing claims to be examined against available evidence.
TMS said it would continue its campaign peacefully and democratically, maintaining that Nigerians would ultimately determine the direction of the country through their votes.
