A new advocacy group, Tinubu Must Stay, has been launched in Nigeria, calling for continued support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections. The group unveiled its campaign on October 1, 2026, as Nigeria marked its 66th Independence Anniversary. According to the movement's National Convener, Ibrahim Uba, the group was formed by Nigerians who believe the policies introduced by the Tinubu administration should be examined based on available data and their long-term objectives.
The Tinubu Must Stay movement acknowledges that some of the government's major economic decisions have created significant difficulties for Nigerians. The removal of the petrol subsidy and reforms in the foreign exchange market have led to higher living, transportation, and energy costs. However, Uba argues that the hardship associated with the reforms should be considered alongside the government's stated objectives and reported outcomes. He emphasizes that public discussion should examine the administration's full record, including measurable outcomes, unresolved problems, and the longer-term objectives of its reforms.
The movement's campaign will focus on three major areas: presenting fact-based counter-narratives, providing alternative explanations of government programs based on available evidence, and increasing civic engagement ahead of the 2027 elections. Uba says the group will seek to respond to criticisms of the administration while encouraging Nigerians to examine government policies and their results. The movement will also highlight recent economic figures, including Nigeria's real Gross Domestic Product growth of 4.43 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026.
The National Bureau of Statistics attributed the expansion to developments across major sectors of the economy. Uba also points to the moderation in headline inflation reported in August 2026. However, he notes that economic statistics alone cannot capture the experience of ordinary Nigerians. The movement recognizes that statistics do not erase hardship and that government programs should be assessed not merely by announcements or expenditure, but by their actual impact on citizens.
The group highlights education and social intervention programs as areas that should form part of the discussion about the administration's record. Uba cites the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which has benefited over 1.5 million students, with over N282 billion reportedly disbursed. The Tinubu administration introduced the fund as an interest-free student financing program covering tuition support and upkeep assistance for eligible students. The movement also mentions the 3 Million Technical Talent program, the National Health Fellows Programme, and the NG-CARES intervention.
The 3MTT program has trained over 160,000 fellows across three cohorts, while the National Health Fellows Programme has been deployed across the 774 local government areas. On social protection, Uba says the NG-CARES program has reached over 15 million vulnerable Nigerians. Infrastructure also features prominently in the movement's presentation, with projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, and Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road among ongoing federal projects.
The launch of the Tinubu Must Stay movement adds another dimension to the growing political mobilization ahead of the 2027 general elections. Several groups have already begun organizing around competing positions on Tinubu's political future. While the Tinubu Must Stay movement is campaigning for continuity, a separate "Tinubu Must Go" movement has also been active in demanding a change of government ahead of the next presidential election.
Key points
- The Tinubu Must Stay movement is campaigning for continued support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
- The movement's campaign will focus on presenting fact-based counter-narratives and increasing civic engagement.
- The group highlights education and social intervention programs as areas that should form part of the discussion about the administration's record.
