Nigerian President Bola Tinubu blamed opposition parties for the hunger and poverty gripping millions of Nigerians, telling supporters at a campaign rally in Kaduna that previous administrations created the hardship his government is now trying to fix. "I have heard the opposition talking about hunger and poverty. Who caused them? They did!" Tinubu said. The remarks came as the ruling All Progressives Congress launched campaign activities in the city.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a leading opposition figure, rejected the framing outright, calling Tinubu's claim delusional and arguing hardship facing Nigerian households has intensified under the current administration, not before it. The exchange marks one of the sharpest public clashes between the two camps in recent months, reflecting a deepening dispute over who bears responsibility for the country's economic strain as both sides sharpen messaging ahead of the 2027 election.

The clash came alongside separate strain within the opposition, where another party said most of its candidates could not afford fees to file nomination forms, blaming the ruling party for the barrier. Together, the episodes suggest an election cycle shaped by economic grievances, from the cost of goods to the cost of contesting office, leaving Tinubu's government to convince voters its policies are easing, not deepening, the hardship opposition leaders describe.