By Chief Akinwumi Akinfenwa
As Nigeria gradually moves towards another defining electoral cycle in 2027, citizens are once again being inundated with political rhetoric, campaign positioning, strategic alliances and promises of a better future. This is normal in every democracy. Elections are contests of ideas, visions and competing claims about who can best govern a nation.
Yet, beyond the slogans, the billboards, the endorsements and the political calculations lies a simple democratic principle: leaders must be judged by their performance.
The true test of any government is not the eloquence of its promises but the quality of its delivery.
For the All Progressives Congress (APC), the journey to power began in 2015 with one powerful word: Change.
Eight years later, having exhausted the political capital associated with that slogan, the party returned to Nigerians in 2023 with another equally powerful phrase: Renewed Hope.
The question confronting Nigerians today is straightforward:
After more than twelve years in power, has the APC fulfilled the promises upon which it secured the trust and mandate of the Nigerian people?
This seven-part series seeks to answer that question.
It is not intended as a partisan attack. Neither is it an endorsement of any particular opposition party. Rather, it is an exercise in democratic accountability—a careful examination of promises made, policies implemented, and outcomes experienced by ordinary Nigerians.
History demands no less.
*Why Nigerians Embraced APC in 2015*
To understand the APC’s performance, one must first understand the expectations that accompanied its rise to power.
By 2015, many Nigerians had become frustrated with the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Concerns about corruption, insecurity, unemployment and governance failures dominated national conversations.
The insurgency in the North-East had become a major national security challenge.
Public confidence in institutions was declining.
Many citizens desired a political alternative.
The APC successfully positioned itself as that alternative.
It presented itself as a coalition of reformers determined to rescue Nigeria from drift and decline.
At the centre of that campaign stood Muhammadu Buhari, a former military Head of State whose reputation for personal discipline and anti-corruption credentials appealed to millions of voters.
The APC’s message was simple:
Nigeria could do better.
Nigeria deserved better.
And under APC leadership, Nigeria would become better.
That message resonated across the country.
The result was historic.
For the first time in Nigeria’s democratic history, an incumbent president was defeated at the ballot box.
The victory represented not merely a change of government but a transfer of hope.
*The Promises of Change*
The APC’s 2015 campaign rested on several major pillars.
*Security*
The party promised to defeat terrorism, restore peace to affected communities, secure Nigeria’s borders and guarantee the safety of lives and property.
Security was perhaps the single most important issue of the campaign.
Many voters believed that Buhari’s military background would provide the leadership required to address the nation’s security challenges.
*Economic Revival*
The APC promised economic growth, diversification, job creation and improved living standards.
Nigerians were assured that the economy would become more productive and less dependent on oil revenues.
The party promised opportunities for young people and a more prosperous future for all.
*Anti-Corruption*
Another major campaign promise was the fight against corruption.
The APC pledged transparency, accountability and prudent management of public resources.
Corruption was presented as one of the principal obstacles to national development.
Many Nigerians voted for APC because they believed public funds would be better managed.
*Power Supply*
The party also promised significant improvements in electricity generation and distribution.
Reliable power supply was presented as a key component of industrial growth and economic transformation.
*Employment*
Millions of jobs were promised through investments, industrial expansion and economic reforms.
Young Nigerians, in particular, saw hope in these commitments.
Collectively, these promises formed the foundation upon which APC secured power in 2015.
*Eight Years Later: Renewed Hope*
As the 2023 election approached, the APC faced a difficult reality.
After eight years in office, it could no longer campaign as an opposition party.
It could no longer blame predecessors for every challenge confronting the nation.
It needed a new message.
That message became Renewed Hope.
Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigerians were again presented with an ambitious vision.
The promises included:
*Economic Prosperity*
Citizens were assured of stronger economic growth, increased investment and improved living standards.
*Job Creation*
The administration promised employment opportunities, support for entrepreneurship and greater inclusion of young people in the economy.
*Infrastructure Development*
Investments in roads, transportation and public infrastructure were highlighted as priorities.
*Stable Power Supply*
Improved electricity generation and distribution remained a major promise.
*Security Improvements*
The government pledged to strengthen security institutions and restore confidence in public safety.
*Poverty Reduction*
The promise of Renewed Hope was fundamentally a promise that Nigerians would experience better living conditions.
For many citizens, the slogan suggested that the difficulties of previous years would give way to a brighter future.
*The Central Question*
Political promises are not inherently problematic.
Every political party makes promises.
Every candidate offers visions and aspirations.
The real issue is whether those promises translate into measurable outcomes.
Did security improve as promised?
Did poverty decline?
Did employment increase?
Did electricity become more reliable?
Did corruption reduce significantly?
Did living standards improve?
These are the questions responsible citizens must ask.
Indeed, these are the questions democracy requires us to ask.
No government should be evaluated solely on intentions.
Governments must be evaluated on results.
*How This Series Will Assess APC’s Record*
In the weeks ahead, this series will examine APC’s stewardship using objective indicators and measurable outcomes.
The analysis will focus on:
*The Economy*
Inflation, cost of living, unemployment, poverty and economic growth.
*The Naira*
Exchange-rate stability, purchasing power and the condition of the Nigerian middle class.
*Security*
Terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and public safety.
*Public Debt and Corruption*
Borrowing, fiscal management, transparency and accountability.
*Education and Healthcare*
Human capital development, institutional performance and quality of life.
The purpose is not to score political points.
The purpose is to determine whether the promises of Change and Renewed Hope translated into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
*Democracy Demands Accountability*
One of the greatest dangers in democratic societies is political amnesia.
Citizens become so consumed by new promises that they forget old ones.
Political slogans change.
Campaign songs change.
Political alliances change.
Yet the realities of daily life remain.
A mother struggling to feed her family does not live on slogans.
A graduate searching for employment cannot survive on campaign rhetoric.
A farmer threatened by insecurity cannot be protected by speeches.
A business owner confronting rising costs needs results, not promises.
That is why accountability matters.
Democracy works best when citizens remember.
Democracy works best when leaders know they will be judged by their performance.
Democracy works best when elections become referendums on governance rather than competitions in propaganda.
As 2027 approaches, Nigerians have both the right and the responsibility to evaluate the APC’s record carefully.
The future of the nation depends on it.
*Conclusion*
The APC came to power in 2015 on the promise of Change.
It sought renewal in 2023 through the promise of Renewed Hope.
Both slogans carried enormous expectations.
Both inspired millions of Nigerians.
But expectations alone do not build nations.
Promises alone do not transform societies.
Performance does.
In the remaining parts of this series, we shall move beyond slogans and examine outcomes.
We shall compare commitments with results.
We shall assess promises against reality.
And we shall ask whether the Nigeria of today reflects the future that was promised to its citizens.
*Next Week:*
*Part 2 – The Economy Under APC: Why Nigerians Are Working Harder and Living Poorer*
In the next installment, we shall examine inflation, fuel prices, unemployment, poverty, the cost-of-living crisis and the economic realities confronting millions of Nigerian families under APC rule.This first installment establishes the intellectual and moral foundation for the entire series. Part 2 should be substantially more data-driven, with detailed comparisons of inflation, fuel prices, poverty, unemployment, GDP growth, and household purchasing power from 2015 to the present.
*©️ Chief Akinwumi Akinfenwa*
*09091700203 – WhatsApp*
*07062986613 – Calls*
*31st of May, 2026*
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