The Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger, Most Reverend Alexander Ibezim, criticized the Buhari administration for causing significant suffering among Nigerians since taking office in 2015. In response, the Presidency challenged the Archbishop's statements.

The Presidency dismissed the Archbishop's viewpoint as nothing new. During the 1st Session of the 13th Synod of the Awka Diocese of the Anglican Church at St Peter’s Church, Agulu in Anaocha local government area of Anambra State, Most Reverend Alexander Ibezim stated in his presidential address that Nigerians have faced significant difficulties under President Buhari's administration. He highlighted instances of violence, abductions, theft, and inflation, and criticized the government's failure to address various grievances across the country.

The Archbishop, who also serves as the Bishop of Awka Diocese, remarked that the President failed to fulfill his promise of addressing the issue of unemployment when he took office. He went on to state that Nigeria has been blessed with abundant human and material resources that should be utilized for the good of all citizens, but unfortunately, these resources have been seized by a small group in power. The Archbishop described the past eight years as a challenging period marked by frequent violence, abductions, unaddressed grievances, theft, inflation, high unemployment rates, uneven appointments, and fuel shortages.

The Archbishop expressed his concern that Nigerians have yet to experience the true essence of democracy, and that politicians have demonstrated little regard for their constituents. He added that citizens are exhausted and eager for a new Nigeria. Despite this, he encouraged Nigerians to remain hopeful, assuring them that a new Nigeria characterized by justice, fairness, equity, peace, and progress would eventually emerge. The Archbishop also commended Nigerians for changing the tone of campaigning and voting in the 2023 elections, despite the severe economic difficulties they face.

Ibezim criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its handling of the February 25 presidential election, stating that the commission had dashed the hopes of millions of Nigerians. The Anglican prelate advised the incoming government to prioritize the interests of the people over ethnic considerations, emphasizing that a prosperous country can only thrive through fairness and justice. Although he acknowledged the government's initiative to introduce new naira notes, he criticized the authorities for causing hardship by not circulating the new notes adequately. He urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure sufficient circulation of the new naira notes before the December 31 deadline to avoid causing further hardship to the people.

The Presidency dismissed the allegation, stating that it contained no new information. According to Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, the Bishop's remarks were merely a repetition of what the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had previously stated during the campaign. Shehu emphasized that the Bishop's comments offered nothing novel, as they aligned with the official stance of the PDP.