The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has outperformed every democratically elected president in Nigeria's history. Felix Morka, the party's National Publicity Secretary, made this assertion during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, August 25, while defending the Tinubu administration's performance and economic policies.
APC Spokesperson Defends Tinubu's First Term Record
Morka stated unequivocally, "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has outperformed any president in his first term. He has outperformed any democratically elected president in this country in their terms." The APC spokesperson was responding to questions about the administration's track record since taking office in 2023.
When pressed to provide specific indicators supporting this bold claim, Morka pointed to Nigeria's economic situation as evidence. "The indicators are res ipsa loquitur as we say in law; they speak for themselves. This president inherited an economy that was completely in a mess," he explained.
Criticism of Previous Administrations
Morka argued that the economic challenges inherited by Tinubu resulted from what he described as failures under previous administrations. He specifically criticized the 16-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which held federal power before the APC's emergence in 2015.
The APC spokesman characterized former President Muhammadu Buhari's tenure as a holding operation. "Buhari was a stopgap president that really came to keep the country from tipping over the precipice — from 16 years of horrific maladministration of the PDP government. President Buhari served his term, did his job to hold the country still for President Tinubu to enter," Morka said.
Economic Policies Under Scrutiny
The interview comes amid ongoing national debate about the Tinubu administration's economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and currency floating policies. These measures have sparked widespread discussion about their impact on ordinary Nigerians, though the APC maintains they are necessary corrections to long-standing economic distortions.
Morka's comments represent the party's most explicit defense of Tinubu's performance relative to predecessors. The claim of outperforming all democratically elected presidents sets a high benchmark, inviting comparisons with administrations from Nigeria's Fourth Republic, including those led by Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, and Muhammadu Buhari.
Political Reactions and Implications
The statement is expected to generate reactions from opposition parties, particularly the PDP, which has consistently criticized APC governance since 2015. The PDP may contest Morka's characterization of its 16-year rule, pointing to periods of economic growth and stability during its tenure.
As the Tinubu administration continues implementing its reform agenda, such defenses from party officials signal a concerted effort to shape public perception ahead of future electoral contests. The debate over presidential performance will likely intensify as the 2027 election cycle approaches, with economic indicators serving as the primary battleground for competing narratives.
The APC's position, articulated by Morka, frames Tinubu's presidency as the culmination of a corrective process that began with Buhari's election in 2015, positioning the current administration as the first to fully address the structural weaknesses inherited from previous governments.
