Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern regarding an IMF report that reveals ₦8.8 trillion in federal expenditures were not included in official budget records. He accused the Tinubu administration of operating a "parallel fiscal universe" in the lead-up to the 2027 elections. This statement was made following the release of the IMF's Article IV report on July 1, 2026.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reported that the Federal Government of Nigeria did not include public expenditure amounting to approximately N8.8 trillion, or 2% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), in its recent national budgets. This omission has led to a discrepancy between the reported fiscal deficit and the actual financing requirements of the country, according to the IMF's Resident Representative.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Tinubu's administration for attributing the issues of insecurity and economic hardship to Nigerians. He argues that it is unjust to place the blame on the citizens for these challenges.

Mr. Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar, has called for President Bola Tinubu's resignation, citing the government's inability to effectively tackle insecurity in Nigeria. Ibe made these remarks during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, emphasizing that addressing security issues is a fundamental duty of any government.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the current administration under President Tinubu, claiming that hunger has become a prominent issue during his tenure. He accused the Presidency of deflecting blame onto the media for the escalating insecurity and economic difficulties in Nigeria, describing this response as a dangerous denial of the realities faced by ordinary citizens, according to a statement from his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), criticized President Bola Tinubu's government for comments that he believes minimize the hardships faced by many Nigerians. He argued that suggesting the suffering is exaggerated is disrespectful to millions of citizens experiencing difficulties, according to Naija News.